Warnie scorches Aussies after humiliating defeat to England

Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign is suddenly in disarray after a “soul-destroying” defeat at the hands of England.

David Warner of Australia looks on helplessly. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images.

Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign has been turned on its head in the space of a few hours of torture at the hands of bitter rivals England on Sunday morning.

England needed just 11.4 overs to chase Australia’s dismal score of 125 down with 50 balls to spare — and eight wickets in hand.

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Aussie legend Shane Warne had some scathing words for the Aussie team after watching the humiliation unfold.

Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 71 and inspired bowling by Chris Woakes powered England to an easy victory that leaves them one win away from securing a spot in the semi-finals.

Buttler put on an opening stand of 66 with Jason Roy, who made 22, as England romped home to their victory target in less than 12 overs.

Buttler smashed five fours and five sixes in his 32-ball knock to drive England to their third successive win in the Super 12 stage.

Woakes and Chris Jordan shared five wickets between them to help bowl Australia out for 125 after they elected to field first.

Ouch. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

The crushing defeat was described by Sky Sports commentator Charles Dagnall as “soul destroying for Australia”.

It was a view shared by many on social media.

It was a crushing in every sense of the word.

England reached 0-66 from the opening six-over powerplay — the biggest total reached during the powerplay so far this tournament.

Most significantly, the defeat has destroyed Australia’s net run rate, dropping Australia below the top two in the Group 1 standings with two games to play before the semi-finals.

Australia must now win its final two games against Bangladesh and the West Indies and hope South Africa doesn’t win its final two games against Bangladesh and England.

Despite Australia’s campaign spiralling into disarray immediately, Warne remains hopeful it isn’t over yet.

The Spin King posted on Twitter he expects Australia to sneak through as the second best team in the group.

He was scathing in assessing Australia’s performance — and the tactics used, that he says blew up in Australia’s face.

His biggest gripe with the Aussie batting innings was the decision to put Steve Smith at No. 3 — and leave Mitch Marsh out altogether.

Smith scored one run from five balls after arriving at the crease in the second over of the innings after David Warner also fell for just one run.

“Disappointing selection from Australia leaving Marsh out & Maxwell batting in the power play (he should always come in after power play),” Warne posted on Twitter.

“Stoinis should have gone in. Poor strategy & tactics from the Aussies. I love Smith but he shouldn’t be in the T/20 team. Marsh has to be.”

He wrote Australia has to change its approach after witnessing England’s superiority with bat and ball.

“Proper T/20 cricket that from England! Australia will hopefully learn how they need to play after that smashing they copped from the Poms,” he wrote.

“Pakistan & England are showing how to play T/20 cricket. Australia need to change their thinking re style of play plus the team.”

It was a top order bloodbath for Australia. On top of Warner and Smith both falling for one run, Glenn Maxwell made six and Marcus Stoinis made a duck.

Only Aaron Finch’s fighting 44 from 49 balls and Matthew Wade’s 18 from 18 balls helped Australia post something for the Poms to chase.

Late, blasting cameos from Pat Cummins (12 runs from three balls) and Mitchell Starc (13 runs from six balls) were the only reason Australia left England chasing a total of more than 120.

The English attack ripped through the Aussie top order like it was nothing.

Woakes sent the dangerous Warner trudging back to the pavilion, caught behind for one, to signal his intent after England elected to bowl in the Super 12 contest in Dubai.

Woakes then removed Glenn Maxwell and returned figures of 2-7 from his first three overs of excellent seam bowling and in between took a superb catch to see off Smith for one.

Fellow quick Chris Jordan (3-17) returned impressive figures of 3-17 to flatten the Australian batting.

Australia fell to a precarious 51-5 after leg spinner Adil Rashid trapped Stoinis lbw for nought and Liam Livingstone claimed the wicket of Wade.

Finch counter-attacked as he took on Tymal Mills and Jordan for a few boundaries.

He put on 47 runs with Ashton Agar, who made a run-a-ball 20, to give some respectability to the total.

England's Liam Livingstone celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Matthew Wade. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP.

The left-handed Agar hit two straight sixes off Woakes’ fourth over but fell to Mills while attempting another big hit.

Jordan came back firing to dismiss Finch and Pat Cummins, who had the first two balls of his three-ball stay over the fence, on successive balls. Adam Zampa avoided the hat-trick.

Mills gave away 45 runs from his four overs but got Mitchell Starc out on the final ball of the innings to bowl out the Aussies.

In reply, England started solidly before Zampa trapped Roy lbw, after an appeal the on-field umpire denied but Australia successfully reviewed.

Agar had Dawid Malan caught behind for eight with his left-arm spin but the wicket proved only a minor bump on England’s road to victory.

Buttler kept punishing the bowling, raising his half-century with a six. He had Jonny Bairstow, who hit the winning runs, for company till the end.

England stay top of group 1 with six points ahead of Australia and South Africa, who edged out Sri Lanka in the first match of the day.

— with AFP