CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, Aug 31 AAP – Fawad Ahmed starred with the ball for Australia as England set the tourists a target of 196 in the second and final Twenty20 international on Saturday.
Opener Alex Hales blasted 94 from 60, the highest score in a T20 international against Australia, as England posted 5-195 from their 20 overs at Chester-le-Street.
Former Pakistani refugee Ahmed took 3-25 in only his second appearance for his adopted homeland, having made a wicketless debut in Thursday’s 39-run win in Southampton.
He was one of few bowlers not to cop heavy punishment after Australia captain George Bailey won the toss.
Hales and Michael Lumb (43 off 27) got the home side off to a cracking start, taking it to Australia’s pace attack with James Faulkner (2-37) conceding 19 runs from his first over.
With the openers continuing to score freely it was Ahmed who made the breakthrough with his first wicket for Australia, getting Lumb to sky a shot over his head for Matthew Wade to make quick ground to glove the catch.
Ahmed, who fled to Australia from Pakistan in 2010 as an asylum seeker, blew a kiss to the sky before being embraced by his teammates.
The wicket slowed things briefly but England got going again before Mitchell Johnson took an excellent diving catch to dismiss Luke Wright (30 off 18) from Faulkner’s bowling.
Faulkner recovered well from his sloppy start take a second when he had Hales caught by David Warner in the deep, denying the batsman a chance at becoming the first Englishman to score an international T20 century.
Ahmed was trusted with the last over and didn’t let his captain down, clean bowling Jos Buttler for a golden duck and having Eoin Morgan (20) caught in the deep to keep England under 200.
Australia made one change to the side which won in Southampton, with Nathan Coulter-Nile (0-46) in for fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
The chase is a chance for another big score from Australia opener Aaron Finch, who scored 156 at the Rose Bowl, the highest ever individual score in a T20 international.
Saturday’s match is the final Twenty20 ahead of a five-match one-day series between the nations.
