Having lost the opening Twenty20 match in Adelaide, Australia know a fast start is imperative at the MCG - and David Warner obliges with a blistering opening knock
Shane Watson, man of the match in the last Twenty20 international, also hits out, striking two huge sixes before holing out in the deep off Chris Woakes
Watson's departure does not temper Australia's aggressive start, however, and England are grateful for a juggling Paul Collingwood catch to remove Tim Paine with the hosts 63-2 in the seventh over
Michael Yardy's capture of opener David Warner, however, underlines the importance of spin on a gripping pitch and Australia lose all momentum - not helped by the fall of Cameron White to Graeme Swann for a duck
And when Michael Yardy removes the sluggish David Hussey, Australia are stuttering on 80-5 having lost all momentum and with Graeme Swann (2-19) and Yardy (2-19) controlling the scoring
Aaron Finch, however, goes about rebuilding the Australia innings in impressive fashion, rotating the strike with Steve Smith early on before smashing six boundaries later on in a 33-ball 54, leading the hosts to 147-7
Chasing what on the face of it appears a below-par total, in-form opener Ian Bell gets England off to a fine start, firing three boundaries and manoeuvring the field well to build a 30-ball 39 in a first-wicket stand of 60
And despite not seeing a great deal of the strike, wicketkeeper-batsman Steve Davies also plays his part - even though England manage just five boundaries in the first 12 overs - eventually falling for 29 off 26 balls
The introduction of Mitchell Johnson turns the tide in Australia's favour, though, the paceman first removing Ian Bell and then key man Kevin Pietersen in a spell of 3-29 from four overs
Another failure for Twenty20 skipper Paul Collingwood helps ensure the tourists are staring down the barrel after 13 overs at 88-4 and the run-rate creeping towards 10 an over
Even the prolific Eoin Morgan fails to rack up the boundaries and when he departs to leave England 113-6 in the 18th over, Australia know they are within touching distance of a first T20 win in six
And so it proves, despite a huge 101m maximum from Chris Woakes in the final over, as the pace combination of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait see out the final overs in miserly fashion to see Australia to victory by four runs
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