Sport

England slump to another T20 defeat

Australia make it a hat-trick of series’ victories in the three different formats of the sport

George Bailey (right) of Australia and Stuart Broad talk after Australia won game two of the International Twenty20 series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
George Bailey (right) of Australia and Stuart Broad talk after Australia won game two of the International Twenty20 series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Fri Jan 31 2014 - 12:53

England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad concedes suffering defeat in all three formats Down Under is "heartbreaking" but hopes a victory in the final game will set them up for better come the ICC World Twenty20 in March.

The tourists have been left battered and bruised this winter, losing the Ashes 5-0 and the one-day international series 4-1, and any hopes of achieving some redemption in the shortest format were brutally taken away from them with an eight-wicket loss at the MCG in Melbourne.

After limping to 130 for nine — when Australia were inspired by the fielding of the returning 39-year-old Brad Hodge and Josh Hazlewood’s four for 30 — England saw their hosts reel in the chase with 31 balls to spare.

Unbeaten half-centuries from Cameron White (58) and skipper George Bailey (60) ensured Australia coasted to a 2-0 series lead ahead of the series finale in Sydney on Sunday.

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But Broad is not giving up hope of avoiding another series whitewash. “We’re disappointed with the way we played,” Broad said. “Australia outplayed us fantastically today.

“But we need to get some momentum from somewhere. It’s been a long tour, a long 100 days in Australia, and it would be nice to finish with a win.

“We’ve not won a series, which is heartbreaking for Team England, but we can finish on a bit of a high before we fly two hours later.”

Jos Buttler’s 22 was the best any England batsman could muster as their top order failed to survive the first nine overs. Two run outs did not help England’s cause, the first after some razor-sharp Hodge fielding and debatable officiating from the television umpire.

Hodge hit the stumps direct from cover and while Eoin Morgan’s dive saw him initially reach his ground, the bat bounced up as the bails were dislodged. That was enough evidence for Simon Fry in the television booth to give him out.

There was no questioning the next run out when Joe Root, who had looked fluent in reaching 18, was caught well short attempting an ill-advised second on Glenn Maxwell’s arm.

“The two needless run outs hurt us, which cost us getting a decent score,” Broad said. “Australia have bowled fantastically well.

“We haven’t got going but in the past year we have done. We’ve done some great things but in these games we haven’t clicked particularly. “But it’s not just the batting — we didn’t bowl well today. Australia were better.”