<p>Tom Curran held his nerve as England beat Australia by two runs in a final-ball thriller to win the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Friday and go 1-0 up in a three-match series.</p>.<p>Australia, in their first competitive match for nearly six months because of the coronavirus, were making light work of a target of 163 while captain Aaron Finch (46) and David Warner (58) were putting on 98 for the first wicket.</p>.<p>But star batsman Steve Smith's exit for just 18 sparked a collapse that saw Australia lose four wickets for nine runs.</p>.<p>Chris Jordan, in his 50th match at this level, conceded just four runs in the penultimate over that ended with him running out Ashton Agar.</p>.<p>A target of 15 off six balls became five off one.</p>.<p>But Marcus Stoinis, having hit a six off Curran earlier in the over, couldn't hit another six needed for a win or the four that would have tied the scores and taken the match into a Super Over.</p>.<p>Finch was soon into his stride with a pulled four off express fast bowler Jofra Archer -- playing his first white-ball international since bowling the decisive Super Over in England's 50-over World Cup final win over New Zealand at Lord's last year.</p>.<p>And on a ground where he made 156 in a Twenty20 international against England in 2013, Finch struck leg-spinner Adil Rashid -- arguably the hosts' best current T20 bowler -- for 14 runs in three balls, with a huge straight six hoisted high over long-on followed by two extra-cover driven fours.</p>.<p>England didn't take a wicket until the 11th over when Finch was unable to clear Jordan at mid-off after lofting Archer.</p>.<p>Rashid then gave England hope with two wickets in five balls, having Smith (18) caught in the deep before all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (one) slapped him straight to home captain Eoin Morgan at short extra-cover.</p>.<p>And Archer then bowled Warner off his pads to end the left-hander's 47-ball innings featuring four fours.</p>.<p>Australia now had two new batsmen on nought and Alex Carey had made just one when he was bowled by fast bowler Mark Wood -- one of three 50-over World Cup winners recalled by England, along with Jos Buttler and Archer, following the drawn T20 series against Pakistan.</p>.<p>Earlier, Australia held England to 162-7 after Finch won the toss.</p>.<p>Kane Richardson took 2-13 from three overs and occasional off-spinner Glenn Maxwell 2-14 from his three.</p>.<p>England were on course for a large total while opener Buttler was making 44.</p>.<p>But Dawid Malan's 66 -- the left-hander's eighth score of fifty or more in just 14 T20 international innings -- was the only other contribution of note.</p>.<p>Maxwell removed dangerman Morgan for just five when he skyed Maxwell and Smith, running round from long-on, held a good catch under the Ageas Bowl floodlights. Malan completed a 37-ball fifty before he holed out off Richardson.</p>.<p>The bio-secure, behind closed doors, series continues at Southampton on Sunday.</p>
<p>Tom Curran held his nerve as England beat Australia by two runs in a final-ball thriller to win the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Friday and go 1-0 up in a three-match series.</p>.<p>Australia, in their first competitive match for nearly six months because of the coronavirus, were making light work of a target of 163 while captain Aaron Finch (46) and David Warner (58) were putting on 98 for the first wicket.</p>.<p>But star batsman Steve Smith's exit for just 18 sparked a collapse that saw Australia lose four wickets for nine runs.</p>.<p>Chris Jordan, in his 50th match at this level, conceded just four runs in the penultimate over that ended with him running out Ashton Agar.</p>.<p>A target of 15 off six balls became five off one.</p>.<p>But Marcus Stoinis, having hit a six off Curran earlier in the over, couldn't hit another six needed for a win or the four that would have tied the scores and taken the match into a Super Over.</p>.<p>Finch was soon into his stride with a pulled four off express fast bowler Jofra Archer -- playing his first white-ball international since bowling the decisive Super Over in England's 50-over World Cup final win over New Zealand at Lord's last year.</p>.<p>And on a ground where he made 156 in a Twenty20 international against England in 2013, Finch struck leg-spinner Adil Rashid -- arguably the hosts' best current T20 bowler -- for 14 runs in three balls, with a huge straight six hoisted high over long-on followed by two extra-cover driven fours.</p>.<p>England didn't take a wicket until the 11th over when Finch was unable to clear Jordan at mid-off after lofting Archer.</p>.<p>Rashid then gave England hope with two wickets in five balls, having Smith (18) caught in the deep before all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (one) slapped him straight to home captain Eoin Morgan at short extra-cover.</p>.<p>And Archer then bowled Warner off his pads to end the left-hander's 47-ball innings featuring four fours.</p>.<p>Australia now had two new batsmen on nought and Alex Carey had made just one when he was bowled by fast bowler Mark Wood -- one of three 50-over World Cup winners recalled by England, along with Jos Buttler and Archer, following the drawn T20 series against Pakistan.</p>.<p>Earlier, Australia held England to 162-7 after Finch won the toss.</p>.<p>Kane Richardson took 2-13 from three overs and occasional off-spinner Glenn Maxwell 2-14 from his three.</p>.<p>England were on course for a large total while opener Buttler was making 44.</p>.<p>But Dawid Malan's 66 -- the left-hander's eighth score of fifty or more in just 14 T20 international innings -- was the only other contribution of note.</p>.<p>Maxwell removed dangerman Morgan for just five when he skyed Maxwell and Smith, running round from long-on, held a good catch under the Ageas Bowl floodlights. Malan completed a 37-ball fifty before he holed out off Richardson.</p>.<p>The bio-secure, behind closed doors, series continues at Southampton on Sunday.</p>