A Jos Buttler masterclass with the bat drove England to victory in the second T20I by seven wickets and the hosts will now look to complete a 3-0 drubbing of rivals Australia in the final T20I of the series on Tuesday, September 8.
With Buttler ruled out and both teams likely to make some changes to their side, we take a look at two players from each team that can make a difference in the final T20I of the series.
Dawid Malan
The 33-year-old batsman continued his stellar form in T20Is for England, playing a measured innings of 42 off 32 balls and guiding the hosts to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Australia. Since the return of cricket, Malan has scored 192 in five T20Is at a healthy average of 38.4. Malan has been the perfect replacement for Joe Root in the line-up and will be hoping to finish the series on a high note in the third T20I.
Marcus Stoinis
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis battled valiantly in the first T20I amidst a collapse from Australia while chasing 162 and he came just a hit shy of guiding them to victory but failed to do so. Stoinis finished with 23 runs off 18 balls as England emerged victorious by a narrow margin of just two runs. In the second match, Stoinis walked in to bat at the end of the fifth over with his side in trouble at 30-3 and conjured a gritty knock, scoring 35 off 26 balls, helping his side put up a respectable total of 157 on the scoreboard.
Stoinis has been the best batsman in the struggling Australian middle order and the team will be hoping that he can carry his form in the third T20I and help the visitors avoid a whitewash.
Adil Rashid
Spinner Adil Rashid has been the pick of the bowlers for England since the resumption of white-ball cricket in August.
Bar his one poor outing against Pakistan in the third T20I of their three-match series where he finished with figures of 0-40 in three overs, Rashid has been terrific with the ball and has picked at least a wicket in the remaining three matches.
In those matches, Rashid has picked up five wickets at a tremendous economy rate of 7.16. In the second T20I against Australia, the 32-year-old gave away just 25 runs in his quota of four overs while picking up the prized wicket of Marcus Stoinis.
Ashton Agar
While Rashid has been England’s talisman with the ball, Ashton Agar has been that for the Aussies.
The 26-year-old has picked four wickets in the first two matches in this series at a tremendous economy rate of 7.37. Agar can contribute with the bat as well, like he showed in the second T20I, scoring 23 off 20.
Australia have had a miserable time so far in England but Agar is definitely enjoying a good run of form.
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Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Mullan
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