Jan. 12: Debutant Chris Woakes guided England to a record eighth successive Twenty20 international win as the tourists inflicted more torment on Australia with a last-gasp one-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. Despite all-rounder Shane Watson’s best efforts to single-handedly lift the home side to victory, 21-year-old Woakes (19 not out) was the hero as he hit the winning run from the final ball of the England innings.
After Australia posted 157-4, with Watson top-scoring with 59 from 31 balls, England wobbled in the chase as Watson picked up four wickets, but Woakes’ cool head enabled them to reach 158-9. With wickets falling at the other end, Woakes kept his cool when he found himself on strike with his side needing three runs from the last two balls from Watson with only one wicket in hand.
He slashed the next delivery to the cover for two, then drove Watson through infield for the winning run. Woakes’ innings came after Eoin Morgan put England on the path to victory with 43.
SCOREBOARD
Australia
D. Warner c Shahzad b Yardy 30, S. Watson b Yardy 59, D. Hussey b Bresnan 28, C. White (C) c Pietersen b Woakes 6, Aaron Finch n.o. 15, S. Smith n.o. 15.
Extras (lb-1, b-1, w-2) 4
Total (in 20 overs) 157/4
FoW: 1-83, 2-92, 3-115, 4-133.
Bowling: Woakes 4-0-34-1, Shahzad 4-0-25-0, Bresnan 4-0-28-1, Yardy 4-0-28-2, Swann 4-0-40-0.
England
I. Bell c Smith b Johnson 27, S. Davies c White b Lee 4, K.Pietersen c Hussey b O’Keefe 25, P. Collingwood c Paine b Hussey 16, E. Morgan c Hussey b Watson 43, L. Wright lbw Tait 0, T. Bresnan c Lee b Watson 11, M.Yardy c Paine b Watson 0, C. Woakes n.o. 19, G. Swann b Watson 6, A. Shahzad 0.
Extras (lb-5, w-2) 7
Total (in 20 overs) 158/9
FoW: 1-16, 2-49, 3-63, 4-99, 5-104, 6-130, 7-130, 8-141, 9-154.
Bowling: Tait 4-0-40-1, Lee 4-0-41-1, Johnson 4-0-27-1, O’Keefe 2-0-16-1, Watson 4-0-15-4, Hussey 2-0-14-1.