England and Australia rivalry has come early with the 2022 T20 World Cup just around the corner. The defending ODI world champs prevailed over the defending T20 champs yet again on Wednesday. England won the 2nd game on Wednesday to take an unbeatable lead in the 3 match series with a 2-0 margin with one more game to be played on Friday.
Ben Stokes turns Superman –
Manuka Oval, Canberra was the venue as Australia and England squared off for the 2nd time. The incident in question happened when Mitchell Marsh was going all guns blazing with the bat in hand. Sam Curran saw Mitchell Marsh hit him over the top and the ball seemed destined to go for a six.
Ben Stokes running back dived and slapped the ball back in to play before it could go for a six. The crowd gave Stokes a huge round of applause for the skills and presence of mind by the English test skipper.
England rocked early by Australian bowlers –
Australia won the toss yet again and chose to bowl for the 2nd game running. Heroes of the last game, Hales and Buttler couldn’t repeat their last game magic. Cummins got the first wicket of captain Buttler for 17. Stoinis then had Hales caught by Warner for 4, Stokes scored 7 before being bowled by Zampa. Harry Brooks became Stoinis 2nd wicket of 3 for just a single.
Malan and Ali lead England to 178-
Moeen Ali joined David Malan with England struggling at 54/4, the pair added 92 in 8.4 overs and played some amazing strokes. Malan got to yet another fifty to show the fine run of form with the bat. The former world number 1 T20 batter scored 82 off 49 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes before Stoinis sent him back.
Ali scored 44 off 27 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. This helped England reach 178 on the board, Stoinis was the lead wicket taker with 3/234, while Zampa picked 2/26. Cummins and Starc picked a wicket each.
Australia fall short by 8 runs yet again –
David Warner could not repeat his heroics with the bat from the last few games before falling for 4 off 11 balls. Finch opened the innings once again and struggled his way through 13 off 13 balls. Glenn Maxwell also failed to score before falling to Curran for 8.
Marsh and Stoinis tried to build a stand with 40 run partnership before Stoinis became Curran’s 2nd wicket of the night for 22 off 13 balls. Tim David then came to the wicket and went after the English bowling. Stokes got the key wicket of Marsh for 45 off 29 balls, while Curran bowled David for 40 off 23 balls. Despite the 11 ball 18 by Cummins the task was tall enough for Australia who last the 2nd game by 8 runs same as the first game.
Stokes has the twitter melting –
Cricket fans took to Twitter to show love to Ben Stokes for the amazing fielding to save six runs and you can read all the tweets below.
Simply outstanding! Ben Stokes saves six with some acrobatics on the rope! #AUSvENG #PlayOfTheDay | #Dettol pic.twitter.com/5vmFRobfif
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 12, 2022
What a piece of fielding by Ben Stokes....
— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) October 12, 2022
Ben Stokes is easily world's all time most overrated white ball player.
— RuturajFan (@RuturajFan) October 12, 2022
Actually even in tests too, considering some consider him at Jadeja's level
In t20s, been case and point for one season wonder with 2017 ipl being the only memorable period for him in t20s!!
Ben Stokes wow. Incredible effort. #AUSvENG
— Ashlee (@_itsashleeee_) October 12, 2022
Fielding of the higest quality by Ben Stokes!#AUSvENG
— Ahmad (@inswinger30) October 12, 2022
Ben Stokes 😮 ridiculous bit of fielding. Feel like I’ve said that a million times about him before already #AUSvENG
— Jack (@jacktindall1) October 12, 2022