Scorecard
England have made a good start to their clash against Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval, reaching 95-3 at the end of their 20-over. Recruit Steve Davies rode his luck to reach 50 not out. After electing to bat on a hard pitch, Minister's XI should have had Davies out for a duck from the fourth ball of the match. Nudging a straight ball from Starc, English opener Davies called Wright for an impossible single and the non-striker was short of his ground when Alex Keath aimed at the stumps only to miss the target. Davies and Trott combining well for a healthy score of 63-1 after 9-overs, which including five fours and a six to Davies and one boundary to Trott. But with Copeland in his second spell, finding his rhythm and the introduction of spin (Beer) and then Pattinson, the Minister's XI were able to stop the flow of boundaries and force the visitors to work hard between the wickets. Trott was give a life in 15-over when Finch dropped a regulation chance at cover off spinner Beer. Eventually Davies chanced his arm one time, and flat-batting a short ball from Pattinson that was caught at mid-off for Michael Hill. Any such plans were undone by a brilliant direct hit from Carters, which saw a scampering Pietersen found inches short of his crease and on his way back ro the pavilion for three.
Prime Minister's XI have bounced back well after picking three wickets in the first 20-overs. Trott had looked set to take game away, but after clubbing another 14 runs, Pattinson chimed in with his first, a peach of a delivery that shaped away to catch a thin edge through to the keeper. With Minister's XI suddenly full of momentum for the first time in the match, Pattinson and Copeland were all of a sudden unplayable and with the ball swinging late. Beer came back into the attack at the 26-mark searching for a breakthrough, but Bell was starting to relax and the captain Collingwood brough up the England's 150 with a cut that flew to the rope just backward square. After his pragmatic start of the innings, Bell beginning to burn, and after a couple of crushing boundaries, the English #5 brought up his fifty in the 34th over, from 67 deliveries. Collingwood failed by his timing and attempting to slap Starc, could only find the safe hands of Ferguson.
Yardy came to the pitch and Bell knowing his side needed a good knock to stay in touch. With less than 10 overs remaining, Bell was out to close in emphatic style, putting Beer deep into the stands with a punishing slog over mid-wicket. England taken the powerplay in the 44th over and lifted the run-rate above five an over by going hard against the pacemen Copeland, Starc and Pattinson. Yardy struggling to survive some vicious deliveries from Copeland, was out hooking in the next ball, caught at square leg.It had no positive effect on the run rate, with Starc and Copeland getting smashed by the English pair, batting powerplay going for 63 with three overs remaining. Bell was heading back to the pavilion after surviving one botched pull-shot being caught for 74. Only eight runs have been scored in the last three overs, with Swann throwing away his wicket playing a loose off-drive off the bowling of Pattinson.
How did they! 
