Dawid Malan posted 82 to lead the batting and Sam Curran snared three wickets to help England clinch a series victory over Australia with an eight-run win on Wednesday that will be a setback for the hosts ahead of their title defense at the T20 World Cup.
Malan plundered seven boundaries and four sixes in his 49-ball innings and shared a 92-run fifth -wicket stand with Moeen Ali that propelled England from a precious 54-4 in the 9th over to a total of 178-7 after being sent in to bat.
Curran took some big wickets when Glenn Maxwell (8) pulled a bouncer to Alex Hales at mid-wicket in the 8th over and Marcus Stoinis (22) picked out Harry Brook at deep mid-wicket in the 12th. He returned to end Australia's hopes by taking out the leg stump of Tim David (40 of 23 balls) with a perfect yorker in the 18th. The Australians finished on 170-6.
England won the series-opening match in Perth last Sunday by eight runs but was facing a full-strength bowling attack in Canberra, with Australia making five changes for Game 2.
Malan went in at the start of the third over after skipper Jos Buttler was out for 17, and he dug in while Hales (4), Ben Stokes (7) and Harry Brook (1) all fell cheaply.
Australia captain Aaron Finch said the difference Wednesday was the fielding, with his lineup putting down four chances and England holding every catch.
“We were really poor in the field, especially when we had them four (wickets) down inside the first 10 overs,” he said.
Malan, playing his 50th T20 international, raised his 50 from 31 balls and kept the pressure on the Australian attack with controlled aggression and some hefty hitting.
He had a reprieve on 54 when he skied one down the ground off Mitchell Starc and David was not only unable to catch the ball, but promoted it over the boundary for six.
“Over the moon," Malan said of his player-of-the-match performance.
“Thankfully got away with a little bit here and there."
The teams will meet again in Canberra on Friday before a final week of preparation for the T20 World Cup.