Travis Head's heroics power Australia to victory over England in Twenty20 International

Head's unbeaten 71 off 49 balls guides Australia to a four-wicket win in the first T20I at Perth Stadium.

England set Australia a challenging target of 209 runs but Head's brilliant innings and some late hitting from Matthew Wade saw the hosts home with two balls to spare.

Travis Head has produced a stunning unbeaten knock of 71 to guide Australia to a thrilling four-wicket victory over England in the first Twenty20 International at Perth Stadium.

Chasing a challenging target of 209, Australia looked in trouble at 5-104 in the 12th over and then 6-154 in the 17th over. But Head, who was dropped on 20 by Dawid Malan, took the attack to the England bowlers and smashed five fours and four sixes in his match-winning knock.

Head was well supported by Matthew Wade, who hit an unbeaten 21 off 14 balls, as the pair put on a match-winning 55-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Earlier, England had posted a imposing total of 208-6 thanks to a brilliant century from Dawid Malan, who made 103 off 50 balls.

Malan was well supported by Jos Buttler, who made 32, and Moeen Ali, who hit an unbeaten 29 off 16 balls.

The victory gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second T20I to be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

**Head's innings was his highest score in a T20I for Australia and his second half-century in the format.** * He now has 1,027 runs in T20Is at an average of 30.50 and a strike rate of 138.55. * Head's knock is the highest score by an Australian in a T20I chase. * The victory is Australia's first in a T20I against England since 2018. * England's total of 208-6 is their highest score in a T20I against Australia. * Malan's century is his second in T20Is and his first against Australia. * Malan now has 1,253 runs in T20Is at an average of 44.39 and a strike rate of 147.62. **The match was played in front of a crowd of 53,884, the largest crowd for a T20I in Australia.** * The victory was a much-needed one for Australia, who had lost their previous two T20I series against India and Sri Lanka. * The series is now evenly poised at 1-1, with the third and deciding T20I to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.