Intentional or Unintentional? Matthew Wade’s Attempt Creates Controversy:
There was controversy during the first T20I between Australia and England as Matthew Wade apparently blocked Mark Wood from taking a return catch in Perth. In the seventeenth over of Australia’s chase of 209, Matthew Wade top-edged a pull off Wood onto his helmet and the ball ballooned straight up in the air. The English pacer ran in towards the striker’s end to attempt to take a return catch, but Matthew Wade, turning around towards the crease, broadened his arm and restricted Mark Wood from getting to the ball, which landed safely.
Buttler brought his arms up in uncertainty, but the visitors didn’t appeal and Wade was saved.The incident started controversy, with many on Twitter guaranteeing it was against the “spirit of cricket.”
Wade, however, couldn’t take Australia over the line as he fell in the last over to Sam Curran. England went on to win the high-scoring thriller by 8 runs.
The opening pair of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler gave the visitors the ideal start, putting on an opening stand of 132 runs. Hales hit 84 off 51 deliveries, while Buttler smashed 68 off only 32 deliveries.
As the other batters failed to fire, Chris Woakes hit an unbeaten 13 off 7 balls to help them to 208/6 in 20 overs. Mark Wood then took three vital wickets to help restrict the Aussies to 200/9 as England took a 1-0 series lead.
