England got off to a winning start on their World Cup tour when they sealed a thrilling eight-run win in the first of three Twenty20 warm-up internationals against Australia here today. Australia looked to be ahead of the chase when David Warner was in full flow but wickets fell at regular intervals and England held on when Sam Curran conceded seven from the last over when the hosts needed 16. But when Buttler, who had been dropped on 30 by a diving Mitch Marsh, fell for 68 off 32 balls after the biggest opening stand in T20 internationals in Australia England lost momentum. It came down to Australia needing 22 off the last two overs but Topley and Curran held their nerve to get England off to a winning start as they begin their build-up to a World Cup that will begin back here in Perth against Afghanistan on October 22. Now these sides will meet again in Canberra on Wednesday and Friday before England finish their World Cup preparation with a final game against Pakistan in Brisbane.

Source: Daily Mail October 09, 2022 22:21 UTC