David Warner in brutal T20 Cricket World Cup act against England amid ugly furore

Aussie cricket veteran David Warner gave the perfect response to critics after starring in Australia's T20 World Cup victory over defending champions England. Warner (39 runs from 16 balls) and Travis Head (34 from 18) laid the platform as the Aussies made 7-201 to set the highest total at the tournament so far. And spinner Adam Zampa (2-28) finished the job with a crucial spell to restrict England to 6-165 off their 20 overs.

Warner - who has indicated this will be his last international tournament - has come under a wave of criticism for his form in the IPL in the lead-up to the tournament. Many had called for the Aussie veteran to be replaced by young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk at the top of the Aussie order. And after scoring a half century against Oman in Australia's opening win, Warner said he couldn't understand why the critics always turn on him.

But the 37-year-old thrives on the adversity and he again stood tall for his country on the biggest stage, against their biggest rivals. Warner and his opening partner Head feasted on England's bowling attack and punished England skipper Jos Buttler's decision to open with two spinners. The pair brought up the 50-run partnership for Australia off just 3.4 overs thanks to a brutal display of hitting.

The retiring Warner - in potentially his last international game against England - took a particular liking to Mark Wood (0-32). He smashed the England fast bowler for 22 off his first over which included three sixes and a boundary in an emphatic statement of intent from the Aussie batter.

Warner and Head continually exposed the short boundary down the legside, with anything too quick and short easily dispatched on the Barbadian wicket. When the England bowlers finally cottoned on and claimed Warner for their first scalp, the damage had already been done with the Aussies in a strong position of 1-70 off five overs.

Moeen Ali (1-18) bowled Warner from a misplayed a cut shot and within five balls they also had Head after Jofra Archer (1-28) took some pace off and dislodged his middle stump. Out-of-sorts allrounder Glenn Maxwell (28) could not go on with his start after bouncing back from a first-ball duck against Oman. He and captain Mitch Marsh (35) stabilised the innings after the quick losses of Warner and Head.

A highlight of the 65-run partnership came as Marsh shattered one of the solar panels on the roof of the Kensington Oval grandstand when pulling Adil Rashid (1-41) for one of his two sixes. The pair fell in quick succession though, with Marsh stumped in Liam Livingstone's first over and Maxwell taken at deep midwicket. A late cameo (30 off 17 balls) from Marcus Stoinis helped beef up the Aussie total but it was Warner's response to much of the furore around his place in the side that had fans hailing the veteran after his innings.

Adam Zampa picks up key wickets of England openers

Zampa helped the Aussies finish the job with the ball after dispatching both English openers Jos Buttler (37) and Phil Salt (42), following a strong start from the pair. The England openers also exposed the short boundary and punished Mitch Starc (0-37) and Josh Hazlewood (1-28) during their 73-run stand before Zampa struck to clean bowl Salt on his first ball.

Zampa continued to hit excellent lengths and was rewarded with the pivotal wicket of England skipper and top-scorer Buttler, who picked out his opposite captain Pat Cummins (2-23) at backward point. Moeen Ali (25) threatened to hoist England back into the game with three sixes from one Maxwell over, but 'The Big Show' gained revenge when he caught Jonny Bairstow (7) at deep mid-wicket off Hazlewood.

RELATED:

• Glenn Maxwell's horror moment as cricket fans slam umpiring 'shockers'

• Steve Smith in big retirement shift amid news about Ricky Ponting

Maxwell taunted the pro-England crowd after his catch, fully aware that the match was slipping from their grasp at 4-124 in the 15th over. Cummins (2-23) returned to the XI after being rested during the opening win against Oman and the skipper had the most success of the quicks to ensure the English were never able to get going again once he dispatched Ali.

The win means undefeated Australia will top group B if they beat minnow nations Scotland and Namibia in their final two games before the Super 8 stage. Holders England can't afford any more slip-ups after their first hit-out against Scotland was washed out, meaning they are still searching for a first win.

with AAP