In a 147-run stand with Travis Head and David Warner (86), he scored 69 runs at an average of better than seven runs per over.It wasn’t hard for Australia to find positives, however, with significantly fewer stakes than at any point in their poor T20 World Cup campaign.
Steve Smith (80 not out) was on his prolific note and seemed to benefit from a slightly changed stance, his cover drive quickly dazzled and hit Malan for a six to collect the winning runs.
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For England, world cup champions Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes and the bowling attack of Moeen Ali and Mark Wood did not show the australian team’s slow pace, while Malan’s brilliant 128-ball 134 helped the team reach a score that looked competitive at least for an innings change.
The Australians’ biggest concern will be the efforts of an almost complete strong bowling attack: Adam Zampa generally shone in the middle overs, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins picked up early wickets on the Adelaide Oval pitch to restrict England to 3 for 31, but looked all powerless to stop Malan.
Amidst all this, there was the team’s man of the match Malan, who wanted to do well after missing England’s World Cup win due to a groin injury in the group stage. When Jos Buttler was dismissed for 42 to lose England to 118 for five, the left-hander was cautious and aggressive and always kept the run rate strong while rarely risking his wicket.
Reaching his century off 107 balls, Malan finally found a willing ally in David Willey; Together, the pair scored 60 runs off just 50 balls to rescue England from the crisis.The only concern for Australia in their chase of 288 was the lack of runs of number four batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who will surely face pressure from Mitchell Marsh for this spot in the line-up.
He scored just four runs but buttler’s brilliant one-handed catch behind the stumps added to his woes. But the duo of Travis Head and David Warner had already turned the match in Australia’s court.
Warner was dismissed for 86 off Willey shortly before as Australia lost three for 44 after Alex Carey reverse sweeped. But Smith took Cameron Green to the end of the innings. There couldn’t have been more impressive for Australia, who came out to chase down the target with a brilliant four and a six off Dawson.