SOUTHAMPTON, England - Australia were dealt a 100-run thrashing as England bowled the world champions out for 79 in their Twenty20 cricket match at the Rose Bowl this morning.
In a remarkable performance with the ball, England passed their first test in the lead-up to the Ashes with flying colours as it took the top seven Australian wickets in 20 deliveries.
Chasing 180 to win, Australia's innings was harpooned by fast bowlers Jon Lewis and Darren Gough, who are not in their country's best test team.
Lewis, who has never played a full international, took four for 24 while Gough grabbed three for 16.
Australia's innings spiralled out of control as they slumped from 0 for 23 to seven for 31, and the English fielders and 15,000-strong crowd went berserk at the fall of every wicket.
Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and captain Ricky Ponting all made ducks, while Jason Gillespie (24), Brett Lee (15) and Adam Gilchrist (13) were the only Australians to reach double figures.
The stunning collapse effectively had England victors just six overs into Australia's innings.
Steve Harmison removed Glenn McGrath's middle stump to end an emphatic win.
England took the fight up from the start, as Marcus Trescothick (41 off 37 balls), Kevin Pietersen (34 off 18) and Paul Collingwood (46 off 26) played gems of innings.
Their clean and controlled hitting took England to 179 for eight from 20 overs.
Collingwood also took two for eight with the ball.
McGrath took three for 31 for Australia, while spinners Clarke (1-25) and Symonds (2-14) slowed England's scoring through the middle stages, but it did not matter because of England's inspired effort in the field.
- AAP
Cricket: England thrashes Australia in Twenty20
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