BRIDGETOWN: Disciplined bowling from Australia in the second half of the innings after a fiery start by openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt helped the 2021 champions secure a 36-run win over England in their ICC T20 World Cup match at Bridgetown, Barbados.

Australia is at the top of Group B with two wins in two matches while England is at fourth place with a loss and a no-result game.

In the run-chase of 202 runs, the English opening pair of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt responded with almost the same aggression as Australia, keeping a run rate of almost nine or ten per over during the powerplay.

Both right-handers targetted pace quartet of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Marcus Stoinis with disdain, with Starc and Hazlewood going for 18 and 20 runs in their first two overs.

At the end of six overs of the powerplay, England was 54/0, with Buttler (21*) and Salt (29*) unbeaten. Australia reached the 50-run mark in 5.2 overs.

(ANI)