Brett Lee launched the first Twenty20 international match between England and Australia in England with a quick and tight first over. England scored four runs, three of which resulted from a no-ball free hit (Jones was caught while attempting a confident pull). McGrath bowled an even tighter over prompting England to change their batting line-up before a wicket had been taken.! England upped the run rate in the third over scoring 14 from the six deliveries off Brett Lee who was bowling between 94 and 95mph! Match Scorecard

McGrath made the break through when he had Geraint Jones caught at deep third man, Kasprowicz taking a well judged low catch. England through Trescothick and Flintoff pushed the run rate forward scoring at 8.28 an over by the end of the fifth over. With McGrath rested after two fine overs, Kasprowicz was introduced and although he was sporting a Lillee type headband struggled to find line and length until the fifth ball when Flintoff held out to Andrew Symonds for six runs. It was a loose shot from the local favourite and a collective groan could be heard around the ground.

With Pietersen flicking his first ball off his legs for a single, England had reached 50 runs for the loss of two wickets, six overs gone and seven fours hit.

Pietersen decided to open his shoulders in the eighth over hitting Kasprowicz down the ground for a magnificent straight drive four. One thing that was evident from the Australian side was the poor standard of fielding in the first eight overs, Clarke suffering the most conceding four runs when he failed to get behind the ball.

The first six of the game came in the ninth over, Pietersen moving on to 24 with the big hit. With a forced straight hit Trescothick had to take evasive manoeuvres when Pietersen decided to hit Kasprowicz out of the attack. At the halfway mark, England thanks mainly to a brisk 33 (16) from Pietersen were 93 for the loss of two wickets, well ahead of the expected total.

A clever bowling change by Ricky Ponting saw Michael Clarke send the dangerous Kevin Pietersen back to the rabbit hutch for a well crafted 34 off 18 balls. Pietersen was caught by Hayden at deep cover with the score moving on to 3 for 100, the lack of pace from the slow bowler contributing to his downfall.

England captain Michael Vaughan came to the wicket at the fall of the third wicket, to the wicket in his first Twenty20 game and it proved to be the only ball he faced holing out to a diving Ponting off Synods second ball. With both Clarke and Symonds resorting to spin, the pace had been effectively squeezed out of the attack and slowed the scoring rate appreciatively.

It didn't take long for Symonds to make another breakthrough, this time Trescothick holding out to Hussey at deep mid wicket, the only fielder within 50yards of the ball! Trescothick had scored a solid 41 off only 37balls and included five fours. England stuttering were 5 for 109.

A 49 run partnership between Collingwood and Strauss saw England move along to 158 before Strauss fell victim to Dizzy Gillespie clean bowled for 18. The partnership helped the momentum move towards the home team after struggling for 5 overs of spin. A mature attitude from the England lower order saw them maintain an 8+ run rate.

Collingwood (46) was the player of the innings hitting two big sixes and five fours, guiding England to a decent total of 8 for 179, the highest Twenty20 total scored at the Rose Bowl. Australia have it all to do in their reply following what can only be described as a sub standard effort in the field.

In reply, Australia were off to a flyer thanks to a couple of boundaries from Gilchrist with Gough on the receiving end. At the other end, England's John Lewis in his first England game had a mixed first over with both batsmen scoring fours off his bowling, Gilchrist surviving a vociferous appeal from Geraint Jones behind the stumps. Two overs gone and Australia were 0 for 18.

Gough made the breakthrough in the third over, Pietersen taking a catch following a loose and adventurous shot from Adam Gilchrist (15). With the batsmen crossing Symonds could only watch as Hayden gifted Gough his second wicket in as many balls, Pietersen calling for the catch. With Gough on a hat-trick, Symonds failed to play it and allowed the ball to hit him in the shoulder. Gough was certainly pumped up and Australia in a certain amount of trouble.

Michael Clarke became the third player to fall in four balls when he was unfairly adjudged to have nicked the ball behind to give John Lewis his first wicket. With three wickets down for only 23 runs, Australia were well and truly out of it. A couple of balls later Pietersen took yet another catch to give Lewis his second wicket of the over sending Symonds back to the dug out. At 4 for 24, the crowd were well and truly behind the home side.

Darren Gough took his third wicket when Hussey edged a good delivery to Flintoff at first slip, Australia were now 5 for 24 and out of contention. Martyn was the next man in to join captain Ponting and it would require a mammoth innings from both players to regain some pride in an otherwise disappointing performance. Solanki and Lewis joined forces to send Ponting (0) back to the dug out and send the crowd into cries of “Easy, Easy”.

Vaughan introduced Harmison, Flintoff and Collingwood to the attack making sure that all the bowlers had a run out. Lee and Gillespie delayed the inevitable with a partnership of 36. Collingwood chipped in with two useful wickets and it was left to Harmison to take the last wicket, that of McGrath clean bowled for five runs. England deserved the emphatic victory with a highly professional approach to the game, the winning margin 100 runs.

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