David Warner's top-order heroics and some late blows from Matthew Wade were not enough to prevent England from securing an eight-run victory over Australia in their T20 series opener in Perth.
England openers Alex Hales (84 off 51 balls) and Jos Buttler (68 off 32) combined for a 138-run partnership to lift the visitors to 6-208 on Sunday, with Nathan Ellis (3-20 off four overs) the only Australian bowler to escape the carnage.
In reply, Warner (73 off 44 balls) and Mitch Marsh (36 off 26) made a bright start in front of 25,755 spectators, before Mark Wood sparked a mini collapse of 3-15 to put the match on a knife's edge.
Australia needed 36 off 18 balls, and the equation became 16 off eight as Wade started taking England to task.
But when Wade holed out in the deep for 21 with 12 runs still needed, it marked the end of Australia's resistance.
There was a controversial moment in the 17th over when Wade appeared to shepherd Wood away from the ball as the England paceman attempted a catch.
The ball had skied into the air after Wade appeared to top-edge it into his helmet.
Wade initially set off for a single, but turned back and then stuck out his left arm to block Wood from taking the catch after realising where the ball was going to land.
England players voiced their displeasure at the incident, but luckily for them Wade's bid to lift Australia over the line fell short.
Rising star Cameron Green endured a tough outing, returning figures of 0-38 off three overs with the ball, before being dismissed for 1 as opener.
Marcus Stoinis suffered an injury scare when he was struck by the ball on his right heel while running a quick single.
He recovered to make 35 off 15 balls, before becoming the first of Wood's three victims.
Wood finished with 3-34, while Sam Curran (2-35) snared two wickets in the final over — including the prized scalp of Wade — to ensure Australia would finish just short.
The decision to overlook Steve Smith for selection raised eyebrows, given Australia left a host of players over east for games two and three of the series.
Smith's omission was one of six changes to the team that sealed a 2-0 series win over West Indies.
Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell were all spared the trip to Perth.
It left Green, Mitchell Swepson (0-31 off two overs), Daniel Sams (1-42 off four), Ellis, Marcus Stoinis (1-36 off three) and Kane Richardson (1-39 off four) to pick up the slack on the bowling front.
Buttler took just 25 balls to reach his half-century and finished his innings with eight fours and four sixes to his name.
Hales needed 29 balls for his half-century, and by the time he departed in the 15th over he had plundered 12 fours and three sixes.
Ellis was critical in limiting the damage, especially in the 19th over when conceding just one run while taking the wickets of Curran and Moeen Ali.
Ben Stokes — playing his first T20 international in more than 18 months — suffered a scary moment when struck on the chin by a Sams' delivery while attempting a reverse shot.
After being assessed for a few minutes, Stokes was able to play on, but he holed out in the deep a short time later.
The series moves to Canberra, with matches to be held at Manuka Oval on Wednesday and Friday.
AAP/ABC
