England vs Australia

So ! Farse end to what promised to be a firecracking start to the 2-match T20I series. Play has been abandoned due to rain and it will be a series decider which will be played on Tuesday. Positives in bowling for England and some fiery bowling from Lee for Australia. Australian batting has a lot of questions to answer and so has the England top order. Join us on Tuesday for the second and final T20I. Till Then, GOOD BYE ! TAKE CARE ! ADIOS !

It has stopped raining. The covers are still on though. Would give you confirmation about the target if the overs are reduced when the play starts, IF THE PLAY RESUMES. Stay tuned.

Nothing much. Still raining at Manchester. We need 5 overs in the second innings to constitute a T20I match. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping that we would have play soon.

Oh dear ! The players are off again ! Perfect start for Australia and perfect time for England to have the rain to come for them. We will be back as soon as play resumes.

Bopara's wicket was the 14th T20I wicket for Lee and his 4th in 2009. Also, it was the 2nd T20I catch for Watson.

Denly's wicket was the 17th T20I wicket for Lee and his 5th in 2009. Also, it was the 1st T20I catch for Hauritz.

M Johnson to R Bopara, OUT ! CAUGHT AT FIRST SLIP ! Short ball on middle, Bopara tries to hit it over the slips but the ball takes the outside edge and has been taken in the slips by Watson. England have lost their second wicket for 4.

M Johnson to R Bopara, WIDE ! An attempted bouncer which was well over head height.

B Lee to J Trott, Trott has been struck on the thigh-pad.

So ! A golden duck on debut for Denly.

B Lee to J Trott, Ball hits Trott low on the pads.

B Lee to J Trott, WIDE ! The ball is down the leg side but Trott still goes after it.

B Lee to J Trott, MAGNIFICIENT SLOW DELIVERY ! Good length delivery on middle, the ball has found the edge of the bat.

Free Hit underway.

B Lee to J Trott, NO BALL ! Trott gets up on his toes to play that one. Umpire Kettleborough has signalled a no ball for foot-fault. The next delivery will be a free hit.

Jonathan Trott is the next man in at number 3, replacing Denly.

B Lee to Joe Denly, OUT ! CAUGHT AT SQUARE LEG ! Short ball on leg, Denly gave himself room and went for the pull and got a top edge. That has gone straight into Hauritz's hands. England have lost their first wicket for 1.

Its still drizzling.

No reduction in overs. So, its 146 to win from 120 balls.

B Lee to R Bopara, Delicate glance by Bopara through the fine leg region. One run added to the total.

B Lee to R Bopara, The ball strikes Bopara very low on the pads

Right ! Australia have not picked Bracken for the T20Is and he would have been a handful on this pitch. Nannes and Hauritz, still would hold the key for Australia. Australia need Lee to fire straightaway needing an early wicket. Johnson could either be a hero or a zero for Australia today. Shah and Denly are the men in form for England and need at least one of them to stay till the end. At the top, England need a quickfire start from Luke Wright. Exciting chase on the cards !

Well, it was raining a bit in the break, but it has stopped raining now. Playn scheduled to start at 15.30 GMT.