England’s T20 World Cup campaign on life support after Australia seals clinical victory

England’s T20 World Cup campaign is on life support after the reigning champions suffered a 36-run loss to arch-rivals Australia at Kensington Oval on Sunday morning AEST.

Chasing a 202-run target for victory in the Barbados capital, England only managed 6-165 as leg-spinner Adam Zampa tormented the top order, dismissing both openers during a golden spell of 2-28.

MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs England, T20 World Cup scorecard

An explosive blitz from openers David Warner and Travis Head proved the difference between the two sides as Australia posted 7-201, the team’s highest score in T20 World Cups.

The defeat leaves England at risk of failing to progress beyond the group stage, with Jos Buttler’s men potentially relying on net run rate to qualify for the Super Eights pending other results. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh’s Australians need a victory against either Namibia or Scotland to cement their spot in the next stage of the tournament.

“Very pleased with that effort, our all-round game was outstanding,” Marsh said during the post-match presentation.

“Our experienced players shone when we needed them.”

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Earlier, Warner and Head got Australia off to a blistering start after England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl first, pummelling seven sixes during a 70-run opening partnership that shellshocked the defending champions.

“They came out with a lot of intent and played really well, put us under a lot of pressure straight away,” Buttler said after the defeat.

“It was tough to drag it back from there.”

Off-spinner Moeen Ali created the much-needed breakthrough in the fifth over, skidding the Kookaburra into Warner’s stumps for 39 (16), with Head bowled the following over for 34 (18) after misguiding a slower ball from Jofra Archer.

The scoring tempo dropped once the fielding restrictions were lifted, with captain Marsh and Glenn Maxwell combining for a 65-run partnership before departing in quick succession, both falling to spin. Marsh was deceived by part-timer Liam Livingstone and stumped for 35 (25) before Maxwell holed out to deep mid-wicket while facing leggie Adil Rashid for 28 (25).

Marcus Stoinis (30 off 17 balls) and Matthew Wade (17* off ten balls) steered Australia towards the highest total of the tournament thus far, with English seamer Chris Jordan snaring two wickets at the death.

The slow Bridgetown wicket muffled Australia’s world-class pace attack during the Powerplay, leaking 73 runs from the first seven overs as Buttler and opening partner Phil Salt (37 from 23 balls) went on a rampage.

The introduction of spin immediately brought about a wicket for the Australians, with Zampa knocking over Salt with his first delivery of the match. Buttler fell victim to the leg-spinner soon after for 42 (28) after reverse-sweeping a full delivery directly towards Pat Cummins at point.

“I realised if I could get the ball into the wicket with some speed, it would stay low,” Zampa, later named player of the match, explained after the win.

“It’s hard to play cross-bat shots against, so that was my plan.”

Australia wrestled back control when Will Jacks picked out long-off for 10, with Mitchell Starc holding onto a superb low catch off Stoinis’ bowling.

Momentum briefly shifted back in England’s favour when Ali slapped three sixes against Maxwell in the 14th over, but Australia’s quicks returned to rip the heart out of the middle order.

The required run rate skyrocketed after Ali’s departure, caught at deep point off Cummins for 25 (15), with England’s pinch-hitters unable to pull off a late miracle.

“They bowled really well during that middle phase,” Buttler said.

“They took wickets at crucial times and defended really well.

“Credit to Australia. Zampa bowled very well and I thought the seamers were very disciplined.”

Australia, hoping to become the first nation to unify the three major ICC trophies, will next face Namibia at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday morning, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.