Event of the Day: Australia versus England

Our event of the day is the 2nd Twenty20 match of the Trans-Tasman Tri-Series between Australia and England at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Australia started the Tri-Series with a win over New Zealand in Sydney by seven wickets (D/L method). Following today’s clash in Tasmania, they will matchup with England again on Saturday at the MCG in Melbourne. England had good preparation for their start to the Tri-Series by beating the Prime Minister’s XI by eight wickets in a tour match on Friday. They’ve also rebuilt their confidence with a convincing 4-1 triumph in the ODI series over Australia, following a crushing 4-0 defeat to the hosts in the Ashes. 

England have beaten Australia only once in their six Twenty20s played Down Under, and that was in January 2011 in Adelaide. The last time they faced Australia in a T20 in Hobart was in January 2014 – Australia won by 13 runs. The home side’s fast bowler Billy Stanlake shone against New Zealand on Saturday bowling at speeds over 150kph for figures of 3/15. Middle order batsman Chris Lynn recorded his highest score of 44 in the six outings for Australia so far in T20 cricket. The same lineup could feature for today’s day/night match, though the hosts might strengthen their batting order with Travis Head, who recently won the Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers. On top of the omission of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, the English team will be without bowler Liam Plunkett due to a hamstring injury. Batsman Jason Roy with a strike rate of 134.05 will lead their strong batting lineup. An entertaining T20 match is expected at the Bellerive Oval.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the FA Cup replay of the fourth round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newport County at Wembley Stadium in London. The first match in Newport ended in a 1-1 draw – Padraig Amond took the lead for the hosts before Harry Kane found the net to secure a replay for Spurs. South Africa and India clash in their 3rd ODI at Newlands in Cape Town. It’s the third day of the Open Sud de France at the Arena Montpellier Arena in Montpellier; and Day 3 of the Ecuador Open in Quito. In the NBA, the Miami Heat host the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, while the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. NHL action brings the duel of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto; as well as the meeting of the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden in New York. In the Eredivisie, Twente come up against AZ Alkmaar at the De Grolsch Veste in Enschede.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!       

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Cricket Australia