Veteran David Warner silences his critics once again as Australia beat England in T20 World Cup

Australia sit top spot in the T20 World Cup group after a 36-run win over defending champions England, who may have to rely on net run-rate to reach the knockout stages.

On a Bridgetown deck where runs flowed easily, legspinner Adam Zampa (2-28) was a game-changer for Australia, dismissing openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt after making a fast start in pursuit of 202 in Barbados on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

Earlier, Australian openers David Warner (39 off 16 deliveries) and Travis Head (34 off 18) had laid the foundation for the side’s 7-201 – the highest total at the tournament so far.

After winning the toss, England had to make do to get Warner and Head off the line early and end their 20 overs at 6-165.

The win leaves Australia unbeaten through two matches at the World Cup and means they will top Group B if they beat minnow nations Scotland and Namibia in the final two matches before the Super 8 stage.

David Warner (pictured) has proven his opponents wrong with a crucial spell with the bat

Warner led the way with a thumping innings that got the side off to a great start

“I’m very happy with this effort,” said Australian captain Mitch Marsh.

‘I thought our all-round game was excellent. Our experienced players shined when we needed them.”

England, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win of the tournament after their opener against the Scots was wiped out and they can afford nothing less than victory against Oman next Friday (AEST).

“(Australia) came out with a lot of intent and played really well,” Buttler said.

‘They immediately put us under a lot of pressure, had a good power play. It was hard to drag it back from there.”

Australia left England needing the third-most successful run chase in tournament history, but they looked up to the task as Buttler (42 off 28 deliveries) and Salt (37 off 23) matched the heroics of Australia’s own opening partnership.

The Australian players struggled on a pitch that made life difficult for the fast players all day, especially with the new ball.

But Zampa made an immediate impact once he was injected into the attack after the England openers exposed the short boundary and punished Mitch Starc (0-37) and Josh Hazlewood (1-28) over their 73-run stand.

Adam Zampa was a game-changer for Australia, sending on openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt

Australian skipper Mitch Marsh said he was very happy with his side’s effort

With his first delivery of the day, Zampa sent a long ball into Salt’s stump, saving Head’s blushes after he put his foot on the boundary rope and collected the opener an over earlier.

Zampa continued to hit excellent lengths and was rewarded with the crucial wicket of England captain and the game’s top scorer Buttler, who picked out Pat Cummins (2-23) at back point on the quick’s return to the T20 side.

Moeen Ali (25) threatened to hoist England back into the match with three sixes from the same Glenn Maxwell (0-22), but ‘The Big Show’ exacted revenge when he caught the slumping Jonny Bairstow (seven) deep midway through the match. wicket from Josh Hazlewood’s bowling.

Maxwell taunted the pro-England crowd after the wicket, aware that the match was slipping beyond England’s reach at 4-124 in the 15th over.

After a scintillating IPL, Cummins (2-23) had the most success of the quicks and ensured the Englishmen could never get going again after dismissing Ali.

Earlier, Buttler’s call to open the bowling with two offspinners failed.

Warner and Head helped themselves to 22 runs from part-time tweaker Will Jacks in the second over to set the tone for their 70-run partnership.

There were visible moments of frustration from a number of individuals as Buttler’s side lacked precision, with Zampa hinting that the flurry of boundaries from Head and Warner had upset their opponents.

“I think they were under the pump and it showed,” Zampa said.

“It’s so difficult to bowl to us in the powerplay and if your bowlers don’t piece it together quickly enough it can be frustrating.”

Anything too quick was also dealt with with ease, with the retired Warner feasting on Mark Wood (0-32) in what is likely his final appearance against England.

Once England followed that pace they would not win the day, they had the openers within five balls of each other, with offspinner Ali (1-18) bowling Warner first as he misplayed a cut shot.

When injury-ravaged quick Jofra Archer (1-28) slowed the pace and completely dislodged Head’s middle stump, England had steadied the ship at 2-74.

But Marsh (35) and Maxwell (28) kept Australia on track, albeit without big scores themselves and a dream total was confirmed by a 30-run cameo from Marcus Stoinis at the death.