England avoided a morale-sapping defeat ahead of Sunday's first Twenty20 clash with Australia thanks to a stunning piece of fielding from Eoin Morgan.

Defending a revised target of 116 off 20 overs after scoring 203 for nine in Belfast, England looked set to lose when Morgan, poached from Ireland and fielding as a substitute for Graeme Swann, palmed an attempted six by Trent Johnson back into play. England crept home by three runs and skipper Paul Collingwood said: "It was unbelievable."

Collingwood, who leads England against Australia in a Twenty20 clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, also praised Joe Denly, of Kent, who hit 67 on his debut. He said: "It was a great debut, particularly the way he kept a calm head."