Hazlewood takes four against England

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Josh Hazlewood of Australia bowls during game one of the International Twenty20 series between Australia and England at Blundstone Arena on January 29, 2014 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Josh Hazlewood of Australia bowls during game one of the International Twenty20 series between Australia and England at Blundstone Arena on January 29, 2014 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Published Jan 31, 2014

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Melbourne – Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed a career-best 4/30 as England set Australia a target of 131 to win the second Twenty20 International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

England won the toss and batted but struggled on a slow-paced pitch, with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler topscoring with 22 off 27 balls in a total of 130/9.

Australia are bidding to wrap up the best of three-match T20 series with victory at the MCG.

Opener Michael Lumb was out for 18 in the fourth over, caught at mid-on, and Luke Wright fell for a duck in the following over after recalled veteran Brad Hodge took a great catch at cover.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc held a difficult chance at third man to remove Alex Hales for 16, as Hazlewood claimed his second victim.

England lost four wickets in four overs when the 39-year-old Hodge threw the stumps down from cover to beat the dive of Eoin Morgan (six).

Australia's fielding was at its athletic best when Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket threw to the bowler's end to run out Joe Root for 18 at 63/5.

Young leg-spinner James Muirhead enticed Ravi Bopara (six) to slog/sweep a catch to the leg-side boundary, and Nathan Coulter-Nile trapped Buttler leg before wicket 96/7.

Muirhead (1/17) and Starc (1/19), in his first international game for the summer, were economical.

Tailenders Tim Bresnan (18) and Stuart Broad (18 not out) added a valuable 34-run partnership for the eighth wicket to give England a competitive total.

Hazlewood bowled Bresnan and James Tredwell (0) with the last two deliveries of the innings. – Sapa-AFP

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