England 178 for 7 (Malan 82, Moeen 44, Stoinis 3-34, Zampa 2-26) beat Australia 170 for 6 (Marsh 45, David 40, Curran 3-25) by eight runs

Dawid Malan showcased his liking for Australian conditions with a blistering 82 then Sam Curran again held his nerve with the ball, as England wrapped up the T20I series with an eight-run victory in Canberra.

After winning by the same margin in the series opener in Perth, England overcame a full-strength Australia to build momentum ahead of the looming T20 World Cup.

Malan's blistering 49-ball knock dug England out of an early hole after the visitors were sent in to bat on a seaming pitch in chilly conditions.

Chasing 179 to keep the series alive, Australia threatened but were thwarted by a calm Curran with the defending T20 World Cup champions facing continual questions over a misfiring batting order.

The series finale will be played on Friday at the same venue.

Malan fires in his return to No.3

After Jos Buttler and Alex Hales' record century opening stand in Perth, Malan was the casualty as England sought flexibility and promoted a slew of big hitters up the order.

It meant the elegant left-handed batter shifted down to No. 7 and faced just two deliveries at the death. But on a seaming Manuka Oval pitch under lights, against a full-strength Australia attack, Malan returned to his customary No. 3 slot and rescued England from a wobbly 54 for 4.

Malan mixed trademark gorgeous cover drives with more belligerent strokes in a further indication that he's well suited to the quicker Australian conditions. He received strong support from Moeen Ali, who received a life early after a rare drop from Glenn Maxwell at backward point. He made Australia pay with 44 off 27 balls to combine with Malan in a rapid 92-run partnership.

After Moeen departed in the 17th over, Malan put the foot down to power England to a competitive total and provide a glimpse of what may lay ahead for the 35-year-old at the T20 World Cup.

Starc held back, Stoinis steals the show

Their star bowlers returned after skipping the long journey to Perth, but Australia tinkered with spearhead Mitchell Starc not opening the bowling for just the third time in his T20I career and first since 2014.

It seemed to pay dividends with Pat Cummins picking up the big wicket of Buttler in the fourth over before allrounder Marcus Stoinis continued his solid start to the series by removing Hales shortly after.

Starc finally came into the attack in the sixth over and was promptly counterattacked by a free-wheeling Malan. The left-armer along with his fellow star quicks leaked runs, but Australia enjoyed a strong contribution from Stoinis, who claimed a three-wicket haul for the first time in his T20I career, while reliable leg-spinner Adam Zampa slowed England in the middle overs.

However, they were left to rue several dropped catches in a sloppy fielding display.

Australia has unresolved batting issues

After recently shifting away from his usual opening role, Aaron Finch returned to the top but it failed to do the trick with the skipper holing out to mid-off for 13.

Maxwell, who returned after being rested for game one, had a golden opportunity to get out of a prolonged rut when he entered at 22 for 2 after the wicket of in-form David Warner.

But Maxwell once again failed to get going and was caught for just eight meaning he has made only 16 runs in his last six T20I innings. With Steve Smith in the wings, having been unable to crack into the line-up this series, the pressure for spots is fierce.

Big-hitters Mitchell Marsh and Tim David looked in powerful form but couldn't stay at the crease long enough to get Australia over the line.

Curran does it again

Without speedster Mark Wood, who ignited game one with rapid bowling in a three-wicket haul, England's attack appeared susceptible, exacerbated by Chris Jordan struggling in his return from injury.

The pressure was on Curran, who delivered in spades with the wickets of Maxwell and Stoinis mid-innings. Much like his clutch death bowling in Perth, Curran held his nerve when he returned in the 18th over to snare the key wicket of David, who was on the cusp of turning the match on its head.

It capped another strong performance from the 24-year-old who is primed for a big T20 World Cup.