England crawl to low target in second Trans-Tasman Twenty20 clash with Australia
Captain Eoin Morgan was ruled out through injury.
England crawled to 137 for seven in their second Trans-Tasman Twenty20 against Australia as Jos Buttler top-scored with 46 at the MCG.
Captain Eoin Morgan was a surprise absentee from the tourists’ XI, having picked up a groin injury on the eve of the match, and in his absence England laboured against a skilful attack.
Australia captain Davis Warner won the toss and sent them in, just as he did in a winning cause at Hobart, and England duly lost their top three inside the first four overs.
They limped along to 67 for four at the halfway stage of the innings, Morgan’s replacement James Vince chipping in with 24 before losing his off stump to a slower ball from Andrew Tye.
Buttler, stand-in skipper for the day, shared a stand of 43 with the lively Sam Billings (29) and remained in place until the final ball of the innings but never looked close to his fluent best.
Kane Richardson collected the pick of the figures, taking three for 33 as he topped and tailed the 20 overs, while all-rounder Marcus Stoinis got through his allocation for a miserly 18 runs.
England’s attack showed one change from Hobart, with Liam Dawson recalled as second spinner in place of paceman Mark Wood.
