ENG v AUS 2020: "Loved finishing off the game", Mitchell Marsh relishes batting at "hard spot" 

Marsh's matured knock of 39 not out gave Australia consolation victory in the third and final T20I.

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Sep, 2020

Australia's Mitchell Marsh was excited having finished off the game for his country in the third and final T20I against England this Tuesday (September 8). 

Marsh was also relieved to have done the job of batting in the middle-order justice in his very first appearance for Australia after the COVID-19 break. 

Read Also: Jos Buttler driven by competition for slots in English set-up 

After restricting the home team to just 145/6, the visitors found themselves 86/2. A sudden mini-collapse, however, saw Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and skipper Aaron Finch fall in quick succession to wrist-spinner Adil Rashid and inspired fears of another dramatic turnaround as in the first T20I. 

It is then Marsh played a sensible knock of 39* off 36 deliveries and along with Ashton Agar (16*) took his team through with still three balls to spare. 

"I've played in this role for most of my career even though for the (Perth) Scorchers I bat a bit higher up the order and have a bit more time to get in," Marsh told reporters. 

"I loved tonight, loved finishing off the game for the boys and contributing to a great win. It's a hard spot to bat. Finishing the game you find yourself in different situations."

"I was thinking about it tonight, just loving the experience of that again, getting out there and having that feeling of being under pressure -- that's why we play," added the 28-year-old. 

Marsh, who is hoping for a regular spot in the middle-order leading into the next year's T20 World Cup, felt especially satisfied playing through Rashid's threatening spell. 

"Adil Rashid's a great bowler. He's got great numbers over a long period of time for England and he's one of the best spinners in the world in white-ball cricket. He bowled beautifully again tonight," he said. 

Australia lost the series 2-1 despite this victory but retained the top spot in the ICC T20I rankings. 

(Inputs from AFP)

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Sep, 2020

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