Dawid Malan posted 82 and Sam Curran snared three wickets to help England clinch an eight-run win and a series victory over Australia, a setback for the hosts ahead of their T20 World Cup defence.

Malan hit seven boundaries and four sixes in his 49- ball innings and shared a 92- run fifth-wicket stand with Moeen Ali that propelled England from a risky 54/4 in the 9th over to a total of 178/7 after being sent in to bat. England had won the series opener in Perth last Sunday by eight runs as well, but were facing a full-strength bowling attack in Canberra.

Tall quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc returned after missing the game in Perth but between them, conceded 81 runs for one wicket — Starc bowling Curran (8) in the penultimate over.

On the other end, Curran took some big wickets in Glenn Maxwell (8) and Marcus Stoinis (22) before returning to end Australia’s hopes by taking out the leg stump of Tim David (40 of 23 balls) with a perfect yorker in the 18th.

The home team finished at 170/6. Australia lost openers Aaron Finch (13) and David Warner to be in trouble at 22/2, leaving Mitch Marsh to anchor the top order with 45 from 29 balls.

Earlier, Malan went in at the start of the third over after skipper Jos Buttler was out for 17, and dug in while Hales (4), Ben Stokes (7) and Harry Brook (1) all fell cheaply.

England’s troubles would have increased when Ali was on 1 but Maxwell put down a regulation chance. It was a costly drop, as Ali regathered his composure and accelerated his scoring to post a 27-ball 44. Malan, playing his 50th T20I, also had a reprieve when he was on 54 and David was not only unable to catch a ball, but promoted it over the boundary for six.

“Over the moon,” Man of the Match Malan, who brought up his 50 off 31 balls, said of his performance.

“Thankfully got away with a little bit here and there.”

Australia captain Finch said what made the difference on Wednesday was their fielding, with his line-up putting down four chances and England holding every catch.

“We were really poor in the field, especially when we had them four (wickets) down inside the first 10 overs,” he said.

Medium pacer Stoinis produced Australia’s best bowling figures of 3/34, including the wicket of Malan with three balls left in the innings.

Brief scores: England 178/7 in 20 ovs (D. Malan 82; M. Stoinis 3/34). Australia 170/6 in 20 ovs (M. Marsh 45, T. David 40; S. Curran 3/25). England won by 8 runs.