Trans Tasman Tri-Series, AUS vs ENG, 2nd T20I Review: Glenn Maxwell's all-round effort wins it for Australia

Australia have defeated England by 5 wickets in the second T20I of the ongoing tri-series also involving New Zealand. It was the special day for Glenn Maxwell as he registered his best figures in the shortest format of the game with the ball and then notched up a brilliant hundred. It was an exhibition of all his shots against the pace and spin as England capitulated with the bat earlier. However, it was a stroll in the end for the home side as they have now won two games in the tri-series having beaten New Zealand in the opening game.

Australia skipper David Warner won the toss and opted to field first with an aim to register their second consecutive victory in the tri-series. Jason Roy was dismissed early in the second over much to the joy of the Aussie supporters in the ground. But then Dawid Malan and Alex Hales attacked the bowlers and posted 60 runs in the powerplay overs. But the introduction of spin in the form of Ashton Agar reaped instant rewards as the latter hit one back to the bowler and was dismissed on 22.

England implodes against spin

Malan and the skipper Eoin Morgan then continued strongly but the part-time spin of Glenn Maxwell caught them off-guard. Both the batsmen were dismissed by him and David Willey was also stumped as he picked 3 wickets for just 10 runs in his two overs. Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis scalped the crucial wicket of Jos Buttler and Agar returned to send back Sam Billings. England suddenly collapsed from being 94/2 to 137/9. The last-wicket partnership somehow helped them crawl past 150.

Eventually, they ended their innings at 155/9 after 20 overs. Spinners proved to be their undoing as the duo of Agar and Maxwell picked 5/25 off five overs combined. All the other pace bowlers picked a wicket each as the visitors could add only 59 runs in the last 10 overs and lost 6 wickets.

Maxwell special in Hobart

Australia got off to a worst possible start in the chase as the skipper David Warner and Chris Lynn were sent back to the hut by David Willey in the very first over. Though the joy for England was shortlived, as Maxwell and D’Arcy Short took the attack to them as they added 78 runs in just 8 overs. Short was dismissed by Adil Rashid even as Stoinis was also sent back to spice up the contest.

But Maxwell was refusing to relent and tearing apart the bowling attack. He notched up to his second T20 International century with a six over deep mid-wicket which also proved to be the winning shot for his team. There were celebrations galore as he had won it for his side single-handedly both with the bat and the ball. His innings was studded with 10 fours and four gigantic maximums as the home side sealed the victory with nine balls to spare and five wickets in hand.

David Willey was the most successful bowler as he picked up 3/28 but to no avail. Mark Wood and Rashid were the other wicket-takers but they were beaten by the brilliance of one player. It was all Glenn Maxwell on the day and there were no surprises that he was named Man of the Match for his stupendous all-round effort.

Brief Scores

England 155/9 after 20 overs (D Malan 50; G Maxwell 3/10, A Agar 2/15)

Australia 161/5 after 18.3 overs (G Maxwell 103; D Willey 3/28)

Result: Australia won by 5 wickets

Man of the Match: Glenn Maxwell