pressed out to deep point, and England have won with 50 balls to spare!
9.09pm Just extraordinary stuff. England's net run-rate is now off the scale at 3.95 ... South Africa in second place are at 0.21! And that leaves Australia with some real qualification concerns now. They are languishing on -0.63, and really can't afford another slip-up against Bangladesh and West Indies - two teams who are perfectly capable of giving them a hard time...
Hari: "Nothing against Chris,he bowled superbly well,but it was Woakesy who induced the collapse right??" It truly was. Woakes even took the catch for Jordan's powerplay wicket. But a small quibble for England on a memorable night. From Miller, Monga, Chandan and the team, good night!
Mustafa Moudi : "This Group has a Unique Chain now - Eng defeated Aus, who defeated SA, who defeated WI, who defeated Ban !!"
Here's Liam Livingstone. "It was a pleasure watching that Jos innings, the bowlers have been phenomenal, and Mo's been our best bowler and hasn't even bowled today. Great depth in our line-up, then a pleasure to watch genius at work [in Buttler]. He's the best hitter of a white ball in the world. A clinic of white-ball hitting."
9.04pm Aaron Finch: "When we lost a few wickets in the Powerplay we had to hang in there, get to a total we thought would be defendable if we got it right with the ball. Woakes is a brilliant exponent when there's seam early. We had to bowl them out, no issues there, but Buttler played a hell of an innings. We got off to a poor start, but a couple of days off to recharge, but we'll dust ourselves off and come back for Bangladesh."
Eoin Morgan: "The challenge for us is adapting to conditions away from home, we did that really well in the first two games then a big test against a really strong Australian side. Relentless with our lengths and our plans and the bowlers came up trumps. Depending on how the wicket plays you have to have one or two guys to go to, and they came up trumps. The openers look in really good form, Roy MoM against Bangladesh and Buttler following suit. They are all hard ones, we treat everyone with the same respect, it's a tough competition, we go from here to Sharjah for two games in five days."
Sampath notes: "This is Australia's biggest defeat in terms of balls (50) in T20I cricket and their biggest loss in terms of wickets (8) at the men's T20 world cup."
Chris Jordan is Player of the Match for his figures of 3 for 17. "Great bowling effort from the boys, Woakesy and Rash set the tone. Trying to keep it simple, go with the rhythm of the game, hold our length, be nice and straight, and the way the boys batted was unbelievable. I backed my yorkers, stick your strengths and keep improving your game. So many players trying to make the team, but let everything else take care of itself."
8.52pm Wow. That was incredible. For the second World Cup in three years, England thump Australia by eight wickets, and for the second time running, it was a combination of sensational Powerplay bowling and contemptuous run-chasing that did the trick. Chris Woakes led the line with impeccable seam bowling and figures of 2 for 23, Jos Buttler finishes on a stunning 71 not out from 32, with five fours and five sixes. There will be sterner tests... but we all thought that might have been one of them...
Dimkesh: "If you could call a victory as 'comprehensively comprehensive' then this would be it....."
Prasad: "I don't get how people can compare batting first vs. batting second on these pitches. These two teams are not that far apart in terms of skills and Aus bowling is much superior to that of Eng. Ashes will prove this point." Eoin Morgan said this will have no bearing on the Ashes whatsoever. And who are we to argue with him?
cheeky dint, attempting to pick off the winning boundary past short third, but a valiant hand intercepts
swept behind square, two away now
big spin, but too big! A yawning slap down the ground, Wade can't gather, and nor can slip!
Well, I have a hunch we won't start another over. Here's Agar
Mazhar Ali: "England are batting in a different continent altogether. When teams are struggling to score 140 in 20. They are scoring 100 in 10." It is different gravy...
cuffed leg-side once more, doesn't get hold of it but I don't think it's going to matter...
blocks out to the off side
Utsab: "With that six, Buttler has his half century in boundaries."
drops to one knee, and smashed over cow corner! Crikey, this is an utter mangling! The crowd are sent scattering as it lands like a clusterbomb on the seating
that's meat and drink for Jonny! Tossed up outside off, and slammed over the fence! A big arcing swing through long-on!
a gallop to the pitch once more, over-runs it a touch and works the ball along the turf to wide long-on
skippity-dee-dee, down the track again, and launched high and handsome over the bowler again! Absolute carnage, completed with a 'hello sailor' flick of the back leg on contact
Hussain: "NRR boost if ENG do it in 11 overs: 5.1" England's NRR is so high it could secure them qualification for the next three tournaments
outside off, and tucked out to point
fuller, dipping into the pads, flicked square to get off the mark
just back of a length, drawn into the drive into the covers
onto the front foot, pushed firmly to mid-off
looped up from round the wicket, fired into the pads
Hello. Jos Buttler eh? He's a bit good
Time for a drinks break. Over to Miller to take this home
smart bowling. Scrambled seam, wanting to not make it turn. Malan looks for the turn just outside off, but it holds its line to take a faint tickle through to Wade
Agar is back
Wes Igeputha: "Finally, some batting matching IPL standard!"
ends the over with a revere-swept four. He is toying around with them. He changes stance early, and it ends up being a full toss on off. Nails it
oh Zampa sees him coming and tries to bowl a wide to get him stumped. Buttler is in such mood that he doesn't give up on the attacking shot. he manages to chip it over extra cover
driven uppishly to long-off for one
flatter, shorter, and he is expecting it with the late-cut. Just can't beat the diving fielder at backward point
does the field even matter? Buttler leaves the crease early, is not close to the pitch of the ball, which only gives him room to swing his arms through it, and he lofts it miles into the night sky over long-off
Slip for Buttler too
driven on the up to long-off for one
Zampa continues with a slip in place for Malan
Over 12 • ENG 126/2
England won by 8 wickets (with 50 balls remaining)