Tag Ashes 2010-11

Record of most consecutive T20 matches without a defeat is firmly held by Australia for their 12 games in a row back in 2009-10 but England, their latest nemesis, are fast approaching towards it. Today at Adelaide Oval, England registered a nail biting win in first of two KFC Twenty20 series which is now their 9th consecutive undefeated game, to add to their Ashes victory last week..

Scorecard : Eng v Aus, 12 Jan 2011.

Chris Woakes, the debutant, turned out to be the unlikely hero for visitors in the dying minutes of this first limited over match on 2010-11 tour, hitting crucial double and then a single off the last ball of the match with last man standing at the other end.

England, chasing 158 under lights, began superbly as Ian Bell came out all guns blazing, was dropped twice and collected fours fours and a six over third man against Shaun Tait in his 17 ball 27 and even Kevin Pietersen kept the momentum up after Steven Davies' dismissal in second over of second innings. 33 runs came between Bell & Pietersen off just 19 balls. England's 50 came in the 6th over and then captain Paul Collingwood started to up the ante in association with Eoin Morgan who once again mesmerised everyone with his unorthodox stroke making. Collingwood was out trying to reverse sweep part time spinner David Hussey and then Luke Wright was out for a duck 4 balls later.

5 down for 104 on board, Morgan was driving English ship confortably untill Shane Watson came in to bowl his first over and took two wickets conceeding just two runs to turn the match on it's head.

19 runs required off 19 balls, equation looked in favour of England but Watson claimed Michael Yardy caught by Tim Paine behind the wicket and then bowled Graeme Swann to set cat among the pegions. Chris Woakes was now the only man at the crease with some batting skills and he hit a six, a four, a desicive couple and a single off last ball to win this thrilling game for his team.

Earlier, Aussies started slowly & steadily with Shane Watson and David Warner avoiding lofted strokes and they couldn't really pearce the field against tight England new ball bowling. Watson finally broke free in 8th over of the innings, bowled by Graeme Swann, hitting 3 consecutive sixes and collected 26 runs overall. Right handed Watson was out in next after after completing yet another half century and now onus was on left handed David Warner to up the ante but his form looked scratchy. too many shots for not many runs, Warner was finally caught at deep mid-wicket very well by Ajmal Shahzad as he tried to slog sweep Michael Yardy.

England were not with momentum have dismissed both openers and they kept the pressure on by bowling smart short pitched bowling to no.3 David Hussey. Captain Cameron White had a few sighters and then perished trying to counter attack and even Hussey was out the ball after his first pull for a six off Tim Bresnan who followed up with perfect full pitched delivery.

Debutant Aaron finch looked good but lack of support from other end limited home team to a total they surely weren't happy enough on a slowish but no demon pitch.

Fact : This was England's 6th win chasing a T20 match in last 9 games they've gone through without a defeat.