Alex Hales’ fine half-century and Steve Finn’s economical bowling has guided England to a nine-run World Twenty20 warm-up win over Australia in Colombo on Monday.
The English batted first reaching 6/172 off their 20 overs, before Australia responded with Mike Hussey threatening to guide them home before they fell short at 7/163.
The reigning World T20 champions continued their recent domination over the Aussies, with Hales as well Eoin Morgan (30 off 16) and Luke Wright (35 off 29) finding runs at the top of the order to set a good total.
Australia’s bowling attack struggled to hold England’s top order back, particularly spinner Brad Hogg, who did manage two scalps (Hales and Wright) but conceded some 39 runs off his four oversm while Mitchell Starc was the pick of the attack with 2/32.
In response, Australia lost David Warner early for a duck, before Shane Watson (37 off 26) and Hussey put together a good stand which had England worried, before captain Stuart Broad took the key wicket.
Hussey was dismissed leg-before-wicket for 71 at 4/140 with 19 balls left and there were no late heroics despite Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade’s best efforts.