England went one up in their three-match Twenty20 series against Australia with a thrilling eight-run win in Perth on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After Australia were set an imposing 209 for victory, the home side at one stage looked like pulling off an unlikely win on the back of a fine 73 from David Warner and some big hitting from Marcus Stoinis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But some inspired fast bowling in the latter stages from Mark Wood (3-34) and Sam Curran (2-35) saw England home as Australia finished their 20 overs eight runs short.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, England openers Alex Hales and captain Jos Buttler smashed a new-look Australian attack to all parts of the ground in a brutal display of power hitting as they helped England to 208-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Australia threatened several times, the English were able to strike at key moments to stay on top.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Australia played really well -- they put us under a lot of pressure," Buttler said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We were favourites for large parts of that chase and we needed to take wickets, which is what we did."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hales blasted 84 runs from 51 balls and Buttler 68 from 32 deliveries as Australia rested pace trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and leg spinner Adam Zampa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Their replacements failed to come to terms with the powerful stroke play of the England opening pair, who hit 20 fours and seven sixes between them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Buttler, back in the side after a two-month injury lay-off, showed no signs of rust as he and Hales smashed 50 off the first five overs and brought up the 100 in just the ninth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nathan Ellis was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-20 on a batting-friendly wicket with a lightning-fast outfield.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia got away to a poor start when Cameron Green was caught behind off Reece Topley in the second over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Warner and Mitchell Marsh took up the attack and stayed on target, but on 36 Marsh was beaten by an Adil Rashid wrong'un and was bowled, leaving Australia 86-2 after 8.3 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Aaron Finch was run out for 12, but Warner kept the Australians in the hunt, reaching his 50 off 29 balls with a pull shot over mid-wicket off Rashid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He was joined by Stoinis, who smashed 35 off 15 balls before holing out to Dawid Malan at deep cover off Wood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wood struck again three balls later, the dangerous Tim David falling for a duck, caught at backward square leg to leave Australia 158-5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He then put England firmly in charge when he had Warner caught at backward point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After 17 overs, Australia were 173-6, needing 36 runs off the last three overs and despite some late hitting from Matthew Wade (21), the target proved too much.<\/p>\r\n\r\n