Manchester, Aug. 30: Cameron White led Australia to 145/4 against England in the first Twenty20 international at Old Trafford here on Sunday.

England, in reply, were 4/2 in 1.1 overs before rain stopped play. Jonathan Trott was batting on nought, with openers Joe Denly and Ravi Bopara back in the pavillion, neither having scored a run. White, dropped on 12 by debutant Denly, made 55 and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 78 with Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain in the absence of the resting Ricky Ponting.

The duo came together after England captain Paul Collingwood took two wickets in three balls to leave Australia struggling at 54/3 in the ninth over.

Victoria’s White, who didn’t feature in the Ashes series that England clinched 2-1 at the Oval last week, completed a maiden fifty at this level off 33 balls when he launched paceman Ryan Sidebottom for his third six.

He was eventually out when a lofted cover-drive was well caught by Collingwood. — AFP