T20 WC Updates: England thrash Australia by 8 wkts

Riding on a 32-ball 71 from Jos Buttler England stormed past Australia by 8 wickets. 

Requiring 126 for victory, England never broke a sweat as openers put on 66-runs stand to kill the contest. In the end, England reached the target with 50 balls to spare, to further stretch their NRR. 

For Australia only Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar could pick up wickets and by the time they did so, the game was a foregone conclusion 

Adam Zampa has finally managed to provide the breakthrough for Australia as he had Jason Roy walking back for 22. 

Roy who was looking to play a reverse sweep, missed it and was adjudged LBW. Much-needed one for Australia. 

England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler have given England a strong start in the chase of 126. 

Both of them have hitting Australia's opening bowlers to all corners of the park. 

Buttler has hit 3 sixes and 2 boundaries so far and is looking dangerous. Roy too has been aggressive as they have not given Aussie bowlers any chance in the game. 

Buttler is going strong on 39, while Roy is on 22. England need 60 off 84 balls. 

England openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler have began well here in the chase. Requiring 126 for win, both Roy and Buttler have hit boundaries.

Mitchell Starc has got swing, but hasn't been able to break the batters defense. 

England pacers and spinners stifled Australia batters in the middle to restrict them to 125. 

In fact, England won the Power Play battle picking up 3 wickets inside the Power Plays. There was some sort of partnership between Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch, but couldn't continue.

Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins did use the long handle to good effect which ensured that England go past the 100-run mark. 

For Australia, Finch top-scored with 44, while for England Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-17 from his 4 overs. 

 

Ashton Agar and Aaron Finch are counter-punching England bowlers in the final set of overs. 

Agar smashed two back-to-back sixes off Chris Woakes. 

Finch too took on Chris Jordan for couple of boundaries. 

Skipper Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade are looking to rebuild after the early flurry of wickets. 

Wade has been the aggressive of the two, looking to take quick singles and boundaries in the middle.

And as we speak Livingstone has struck as he removed Wade for 18.

Spinners have kept things tight in the middle and the bigger ground is helping the likes of Adil Rashid and part-time bow

Finch is on 21, while Wade is on 17  

Australian batsmen are struggling here to put up a competitive score as Marc Stonis departs for nought. 

Adil Rashid who bowled a brilliant googly as Stonis failed to pick the ball and was adjudged LBW. 

Australian innings is rocked early here as dangerous Glenn Maxwell departs for 6. 

Chris Woakes bowls the Test match length as Maxwell looks to drive only to miss it. 

Replays shows that the ball would have hit middle and leg stump.  

Australia 10-2 (2.4 ovs) vs England | Scorecard

Then Jordan in the next over removed Steve Smith as England have picked up two wickets in the Power Play. 

   

Chameera to bowl the 19th over. Miller hits the first ball but only for a single to long-on and Rabada takes one to long-off.

Miller hits the full delivery hard but only for one to long-off.

Rabada boosts South Africa's hopes as he lofts the pacer over the long-off fence for a six.

He is beaten off the next ball and picks one off the last ball.

South Africa need 15 from the last over, which will be bowled by pacer Lahiru Kumara.

Rabada swings hard but gets a thick inside edge for a single on the leg side.

The next ball is a length ball on the stumps as Miller clubs it over midwicket for a six.

Kumara makes the mistake of bowling another delivery in the slot as Miller heaves it over the same region for another six.

He takes a single off the next as he is unable to get the ball away as the scores are level.

Rabada gets a thick outside edge off the last ball for a four as South Africa win by four wickets, with one ball to spare.

A splendid comeback by South Africa, courtesy of Miller's cameo 23 not out from 13 balls, including two sixes in the final over.

Sri Lanka looked the favourites going into the final over with Hasaranga taking a hat-trick but they failed right at the end.

Hasaranga comes back into the attack. He strikes with the first ball of his new spell, with the key wicket of South Africa captain Bavuma for run-a-ball 46.

South Africa's hopes take a big dent as they are reduced to 112/5, in the 18th over.

Bavuma pulls the short ball but straight into the hands of Nissanka at deep midwicket.

Dwaine Pretorius perishes first ball as he holes out Hasaranga straight into the hands of the fielder at long-on.

Hasaranga completes the hat-trick having dismissed Markram off the last ball of his previous over!

Rabada is hit on the pads as Hasaranga goes up in appeal but the leg before shout is turned down.

Sri Lanka take the review. The ball has pitched outside the line of leg stump as the review is turned down and Hasaranga narrowly misses out on making it four wickets in a row.

Miller pulls the short ball for two runs to deep midwicket and picks another couple of runs off the next ball.

He keeps strike with a single off the last ball.

SA need 25 runs from the last two overs for victory.

Theekshana, who has one over in hand, is back into the attack. He does a tidy job, giving away just six singles in his final over as South Africa go past the 100-run mark, in the 16th over.

The asking rate is above 10, with 41 needed from four overs for victory.

Chameera comes back into the attack. David Miller misses the clips and is struck on the pads for a dot ball. He looks to pull but is hit on the pads as the ball stays a bit low and gets a leg bye.

Bavuma throws his bat at a short wide delivery but misses as the pressure keeps growing.

Out of nowhere, Bavuma picks up a full delivery off his pads, despatching it over the square leg region for a six.

He flicks the fifth ball through square leg for a six and keeps strike with one off the last ball, as 10 runs come from the over.

Markram comes down and tries to swing Theekshana across the line but only for a single to deep square leg.

The off-spinner drops short as Bavuma pulls it in the gap through midwicket for a four and then takes a single on the off-side.

Theekshana bowls a wide followed by singles off the last two balls, as 10 runs come from the 13th over.

Pacer Lahiru Kumara comes back into the attack. Singles from the first two balls before Bavuma looks to pull the short ball but is beaten for pace and hit on the arm.

He takes a single before Markram is beaten by a wide yorker followed by a single off the last ball.

Leg-spinner Hasaranga comes back into the attack. Makram takes a single to long-on before he survives a run out chance two balls later.

Bavuma clips the third ball to deep midwicket and calls his partner for the second run, who is struggling to make his crease but the throw narrowly misses the stumps.

The asking rate has gone over nine as Markram breaks the shackles with a slog sweep off Hasaranga over midwicket for a four.

But Hasaranga has the last laugh. He beats Markram all ends up with a well-disguised googly as the right-hander looks to hit it over the off-side but misses and is bowled for 19.

South Africa are reduced to 96/4 in 15 overs, needing another 47 runs from five overs for victory.

Pacer Karunaratne continues as Aiden Markram gets an inside edge for a single to short fine leg.

Bavuma punches the next delivery through the covers for a couple of runs and flays the next past point for two more runs before taking one.

Some width from Karunaratne as Markram plays a nice drive through the covers for a four.

At the halfway stage, South Africa reach 62/3 in 10 overs, needing another 81 runs from the remaining 10 overs for victory.

Off-spinner Theekshana comes back into the attack. Bavuma gets a single off the outside half of the bat before Markram pulls a short but only for to deep midwicket.

Three more singles as just five runs come from the 11th over, as the asking rate keeps creeping up.

Captain Dasun Shanaka brings himself into the attack. He starts with a wide half-volley which Bavuma drives through the covers for a couple of runs.

The South Africa captain clips the second ball through midwicket for two more runs and then takes a single to long-on.

A single off the last ball as Shanka concedes seven from his first over.

Karunaratne has a confident shout for leg before wicket turned down against Bavuma, who went across and tried to paddle it fine but missed and was hit in front.

Sri Lanka took the review but the decision stays with the umpire's call on the point of impact.

However, Sri Lanka get the wicket of van der Dussen, who is run out for 16. He is backing too far as Bavuma hits it to mid-off and the fielder is quick to strike the stumps with a direct hit.

South Africa in a spot of bother on 49/3 in eight overs.

Things not easy against the spinners on a pitch providing some assistance to the spinners.

Hasaranga does well to concede just three runs in his second over as South Africa struggle past the 50-run mark, in the ninth over.

Rassie van der Dussen gets off the mark with two runs as Hasaranga comes up with a brilliant stop near the ropes to save a certain boundary.

But two balls later, Sri Lanka's poor fielding gifts South Africa two runs as the fielder's needless throw results in overthrows.

Lahiru Kumara then appeals for obstructing the field against van der Dussen. The fast bowler attempts the break the stumps on his follow through but ends up throwing at the batter, who keeps it out while taking evasive action.

The umpire refers it upstairs but the third umpire rules it in favour of the batter as he was inside the crease.

Van der Dussen drives the next ball but the fielder at mid-off puts in the dive to keep it down to two and Bavuma gets off the mark with a quick single on the off-side.

Pacer Karunaratne comes into the attack. van der Dussen gets a lifeline as he risks a quick single to mid-off and is lucky that the fielder misses the direct hit.

Bavuma gets an inside edge which goes on the bounce to the wicketkeeper and then takes a single.

Van der Dussen takes a quick single off the last ball but the fielder's mistake results in five overthrows.

South Africa are 40/2 in six overs, needing another 103 runs from 14 overs for victory.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga comes into the attack. Singles from the first three balls before Bavuma looks to pull but inside edges it back on to his pads and then takes a single off the last ball.

Chameera comes back into the attack. Hendricks gets a thick inside edge as he tries to force the pacer through the off-side for a boundary fine on the leg side.

But Chameera gets his man next ball. Hendricks is struck in front and given out leg before wicket but he decides to review after a chat with de Kock.

But the impact is in line and the ball is going on to hit the stumps as South Africa lose their first wicket and their review too, with Hendricks walking for 11.

He makes another important strike two balls later. De Kock looks to pull the short ball but gets the top edge and the bowler himself calls out loud 'mine mine' before taking the catch.

Two wickets in an over bring Sri Lanka right back into the contest with South Africa reduced to 26/2 in four overs.

Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks are the two openers for South Africa, who will be looking to make most of the Powerplay.

Dushamantha Chameera opens the bowling for Sri Lanka, who are in the need of a few early wickets.

De Kock pulls the first ball for a single to get off the mark and Hendricks takes one off the fourth ball for his first runs of the match.

Chameera oversteps to concede a no-ball but does well to bowl a yorker next up as de Kock can only manage a leg bye off the free hit delivery, as just four runs come from the opening over.

Off-spinner Mahesh Theekshana from the other end. De Kock sweeps the first ball behind square on the leg side for a four and then takes a single to long-on.

Hendricks chips the third ball over the off-side for two runs, followed by three singles as 10 runs come from the first over.

Lahiru Kumara comes into the attack. Hendricks inside edges the first ball for a single and de Kock nudges the next on the leg side for one.

Another single to Hendricks before de Kock drives a full delivery on the stumps past midwicket for a four as South Africa race to 21 for no loss in three overs.

Rabada comes back into the attack. He drops short as Nissanka pulls it over midwicket for a six to boost Sri Lanka's hopes.

He pulls another short ball for a four as Rabada drops short again before the right-hander flays the last ball through the covers for another boundary.

Nissanka has hit his way to 72 from 56 balls, with Rabada going for 17 runs in the 18th over.

Pretorius cripples Sri Lanka with his double strike int he 19th over. Karunaratne comes down the track but mistimes the lofted shot and is caught at long-on for five.

Two balls later, the medium pacer strikes with the key wicket of the well-set Nissanka, who swings across the line but is caught at deep midwicket.

Nissanka walks back after a superb innings of 72 from 58 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes, to keep Sri Lanka afloat as wickets fell regularly from the other end.

Dushmantha Chameera gets off the mark with two runs through square leg and miscues the slog next ball for another run.

Pretorius finishes with good figures of 3/17 in his three overs.

Nortje to bowl the final over. Chameera swings hard but misses and is hit on the pads for a leg bye before Mahesh Theekshana clips the next through midwicket for two runs.

He makes a lot of room next ball but ends up getting a thick outside edge which flies to the right of the wicketkeeper for a four and then gets a single.

Nortje strikes as he cleans up Chameera with a fast full straight delivery which crashes into the sumps.

Left-hander Lahiru Kumara has a big swing last ball but is beaten. He tries to steal a bye but is run out at the bowler's end as Sri Lanka are bowled out for 142.

Shamsi and Pretorius picked up three wickets each, while Nortje claimed 2/27 as South Africa came up with a clinical showing with the ball.

But Sri Lanka managed to post a competitive 142 thanks largely to a wonderful innings of 72 from 58 balls from opener Nissanka, who batted right till the 19th over.

The run out of Charitha Asalanka (21) in the ninth over seemed to have turned the tide as Sri Lanka kept losing wickets regularly from that point onwards.

Pretorius continues from the other end. Nissanka walks across a long way before he sweeps the pacer behind square on the leg side for a four.

He looks to repeat the shot next ball but this time he fails to make connection and takes a leg bye.

Pretorius sticks with the wide line as Shanaka throws his bat and gets a thick outside edge which goes to the right of wicketkeeper de Kock for a four.

Pretorius gets revenge as Shanaka looks to go over the off-side but fails to get the distance and is caught at sweeper cover by Rabada for 11.

Nissanka cuts the fifth ball for a single and Chamika Karunaratne takes one off the last ball.

Hasaranga uses his feet against Shamsi to drive the first ball down to long-off for a single and Nissanka pulls a short ball for another run.

Hasaranga looks to loft Shamsi down the ground but holes out to Markram at long-on to perish for four.

Just three runs from Shamsi's final over as he finishes with wonderful figures of 3/17 in his four overs.

Courtesy of Shamsi's brilliant spell, Sri Lanka slip to 92/5 in 14 overs.

Medium pacer Dwaine Pretorius comes into the attack. Dasun Shanaka is beaten off the first two balls as the pacer does well with the change of pace, bowling wide of the stumps.

Pretorius sticks to the wide as Shanaka throws his bat but is beaten again and is deceived by the slower ball next up, to make it four dot balls in a row.

He finally gets a single off the fifth ball and Nissanka keeps strike with one off the last ball, to bring up his fifty from 46 balls.

Pretorius makes a perfect start with the ball, giving away just two runs in the 15th over.

Fast bowler Nortje comes back into the attack. Nissanka attempts an ugly swipe off the first ball which he misses and the ball narrowly misses the stumps.

Singles from the next three balls before Nissanka looks to steer the wide delivery behind point but can't get it in the gap.

Just three singles from five balls before Shanaka makes up for it, by lofting the last ball over the off-side for a four, to take Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark.

Nissanka has a leg before shout turned down off Maharaj before South Africa take the review. The impact is in line but the ball is clipping the leg stump as the umpire's decision stays.

He survives a run out chance later in the over, going for a risky single on the leg side.

Maharaj sends down a tidy over, giving away just five runs, including a leg bye.

Some generous flight from Shamsi as Nissanka plays the inside out lofted shot to perfection for a boundary to release some pressure.

But Shamsi strikes once again. Fernando ends up chipping a simple catch back to the bowler to be caught and bowled for three, as Sri Lanka slip to 77/4, in the 12th over.

Wanindu Hasaranga shows intent straightaway. He walks down the wicket and heaves Shamsi through the leg side for just a single to get off the mark and Nissanka keeps strike with one to long-on.

Shamsi has done the damage with the ball, taking 2/14 in three overs.

Nissanka keeps Sri Lanka's hopes alive. This time he takes full toll of the short ball from Maharaj as he pulls it over midwicket for a six, followed by four singles.

Shamsi strikes in the very next over. Bhanuka Rajapakse gets a leading edge and is caught by the bowler for a three-ball duck.

Two balls in the space of four balls as Sri Lanka are reduced to 62/3 in the 10th over.

Wicketkeeper de Kock appeals for the stumping against Nissanka as the decision is referred to the TV umpire.

That is a quick piece of glovework from the wicketkeeper but Nissanka has managed to drag his feet back just in time.

Nissanka glances the last ball fine on the leg side as Sri Lanka reach 67/3 in 10 overs at the halfway stage.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj comes into the attack. He makes a tidy start as the two batsmen pick five singles from the spinner's first over.

Spin from both ends as another left-armer Tabraiz Shami comes into the attack.

Nissanka tries to sweep the spinner but misses before he comes down but is hit on the pads for a leg bye.

Asalanka comes down the track to hit the fifth ball down to long-on for a single.

Nissanka also gives the spinner the charge but is beaten and hit on the pads as Shamsi appeals for leg before wicket which is turned down.

In the next over, Asalanka breaks the shackles. He gives Maharaj the charge before heaving the spinner over midwicket fora  six.

He takes a single before Nissanka slogs the left-arm spinner over midwicket for the second six of the over and then takes one.

But Sri Lanka's charge is stopped in its tracks as Asalanka is run out for 21. He flicked Maharaj through the leg side and took on Rabada's arm, who charged in from deep midwicket and came up with a quick flat throw to catch the batter short.

Anrich Nortje comes into the attack in place of Rabada. Nissanka takes a single off the first ball before Perera gets hit on the pads for a leg bye.

Another single to Nissanka before Nortje makes the first breakthrough with the wicket of Perera.

The left-hander has a big swing but misses it completely and is bowled for 7.

New batsman Charith Asalanka defends the last ball of the over with caution.

Rabada comes back into the attack from the other end. He watchfully plays out the first two deliveries before he flicks a full delivery off his pads over the leg side for a six.

Singles from the next two balls as Rabada goes for eight runs in his second over.

Nortje also comes under the attack at the other end. The pacer drops short as the left-hander Asalanka pulls it over midwicket for a four before he drives an overpitched delivery straight down the ground for another boundary.

Nortje follows it up with a wide down the leg side and Asalanka takes a single next ball on the off-side and Nissanka takes a leg bye off the last ball.

Sri Lanka reach 39/1 in six overs, with Nissanka on 18 and Asalanka on 10.

Kusal Perera and Pathum Nisanka are the two openers for Sri Lanka, while part-time spinner Aiden Markram will open the bowling for South Africa.

Nissanka hits the first ball down to long-on for a single to get off the mark and Perera takes one through square leg for his first run as Kagiso Rabada misfields.

Three more singles from the rest of the over as Sri Lanka get five runs from the first over.

Rabada from the other end. Nissanka goes hard at the first ball pitched wide as he gets an inside edge which misses the stumps and goes fine on the leg side for a four.

He runs the third ball down to thirdman for a single before Perera glances the last ball off his pads for a four.

Markram continues. Perera is hit on the pads trying to play the sweep but the leg before shout is turned down. South Africa take the review but the impact is outside the line as the umpire's decision is upheld.

Markram doing a good job in the Powerplay as he concedes just three runs in his second over, for a total of eight runs in two overs.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock (w/k), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Perera (w/k), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday.

The big news is that Quinton de Kock is back in the team as he replaces Heinrich Klaasen in the only change for South Africa.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are unchanged.

Star batter Quinton de Kock's expected return after agreeing to take the knee will bolster South Africa when they take on an inconsistent Sri Lanka in their Super 12 game at the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Saturday.

De Kock's pullout for refusing to be a part of the anti-racism gesture in the game against West Indies kicked up a storm which subsided with a lengthy statement from him on Thursday in which he made himself available, saying he is fine taking a knee if it 'educates others'.

The off-field drama surrounding the wicketkeeper-batter, who is a key member of the side, did not distract the side as it beat the Caribbeans by eight wickets.

De Kock, who felt deeply hurt at being called a racist for his earlier position, also apologised for the confusion caused by the entire situation. He would now like to make a statement by scoring big if skipper Temba Bavuma and the team 'will have me' back.

Bavuma, whose leadership has been outstanding during the mini crisis, would be eager that the player and the team are able to put behind the controversy as quickly as possible.

He has firmly stood behind de Kock during the media storm and has not hesitated to state that Cricket South Africa's timing wasn't ideal when it ordered players to take the knee before every match just hours ahead of the game against the West Indies.

Bavuma would now want to lead from the front with his batting as well. The right-handed opener has scores of 12 and 2 so far and he would be more than keen to find form.

South Africa boast of aggressive batters in Reeza Hendricks, Rassle van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and the ever-reliable David Miller, who can take any opposition attack apart on their day and Sri Lanka's would be no exception.

But all the South African batters would need to be wary of the wily Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who have bamboozled the opposition batters.

The South African bowling clicked in their game against West Indies with right-arm medium pacer Dwaine Pretorius claiming three wickets. They also have two of the best death bowlers in Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, whose role would be crucial on Saturday afternoon.

An important role would be played for the Proteas by their spinners -- Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi --, who would look to run through the talented but inconsistent Sri Lankan batting order.

South Africa are unlikely to tinker with their winning combination.

Sri Lanka will have to quickly put the seven-wicket hammering by Australia behind them and need to start afresh.