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