Finch And Johnson End England's Winning Run

Finch And Johnson End England's Winning Run

Aaron Finch hits out during his innings of 53 that helped set up Australia's Twenty20 win in Melbourne

©REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 147-7 (Finch 53no) beat
England 143-6 (Bell 39, Johnson 3-29) by 4 runs
Second Twenty20 International, Melbourne
Scorecard

Aaron Finch hammered 53 in 33 balls as Australia recovered from a mid-innings slump to post 147 for seven and then beat England by four runs with Mitchell Johnson taking three wickets in the second Twenty20 International in Melbourne.

Finch hit four fours and two sixes to put Australia in pole position and they then produced a superb bowling and fielding display to limit England to 143 for six and bring to an end a run of eight consecutive victories in Twenty20 International cricket.

Having named an unchanged side, Australia won the toss and made a flying start before England spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy both returned two for 19.

David Warner hit three fours in his knock of 30 in 27 balls and Shane Watson, who hit 59 in the opening match, made 17 in ten balls before he was caught by Eoin Morgan off Chris Woakes.

Tim Paine hit his second ball for six and went on to make 21 for 12 as Australia forged into a strong position during the first six overs but the introduction of Swann and Yardy pegged them back.

Yardy had Warner caught in the deep by Kevin Pietersen and then David Hussey caught by Woakes, having scored eight in 16 balls.

Swann removed Australian captain Cameron White for a duck when he was trapped in front and Paine, who was caught at the second attempt by Paul Collingwood.

Finch then added 51 with Steven Smith (13) to launch Australia's recovery, starring in just his second Twenty20 International before England closed well , Ajmal Shahzad having Smith caught by Collingwood at cover and Tim Bresnan bowling Steve O'Keefe for one.

England then came out all guns blazing as led by Ian Bell, who stroked 39 in 30 balls to dominate an opening partnership of 60 with Steven Davies (29).

He was removed when he was bowled by Mitchell Johnson, who struck again to have Pietersen (1) brilliantly caught by White as he returned three for 29.

Australia's fielding was of the highest order and another fine catch from Warner saw off Davies as Watson bowled a fine spell of two for 17 in the middle of England's innings to engineer something of a collapse.

Warner also caught Collingwood for six to pile the pressure on Eoin Morgan and for once, the left-hander was not able to deliver when he holed out in the deep - caught by Finch off Johnson.

Luke Wright put his duck in the opening match behind him to make 18 before he was caught by Smith off Shaun Tait and although Bresnan (15 not out) and Woakes (11 not out) fought hard, an excellent final over - notwithstanding an extraordinary six from Woakes with three balls remaining from Brett Lee heralded Australia's first victory against England since the third Test in Perth in late December.

England needed to hit a six from the final ball to snatch an unlikely win but Bresnan was unable to turn the game around and the series was drawn 1-1.

England won the opening match by one wicket from the final ball of the match in Adelaide.

© Cricket World 2011