T20 World Cup: Australia beats Scotland, moves England to Super 8
Australia defeated Scotland by five wickets in St Lucia on Saturday, sending Scotland home from the T20 World Cup and defending champions England through to the Super Eight. After England’s rain-disrupted win over Namibia in Antigua earlier in the day, Scotland required a draw, a washout, or their first win against Australia to advance from […] The post T20 World Cup: Australia beats Scotland, moves England to Super 8 appeared first on Ten Sports TV.
Australia defeated Scotland by five wickets in St Lucia on Saturday, sending Scotland home from the T20 World Cup and defending champions England through to the Super Eight. After England’s rain-disrupted win over Namibia in Antigua earlier in the day, Scotland required a draw, a washout, or their first win against Australia to advance from Group B at the expense of their southern rivals. The Scots scored 180-5 from their 20 overs under clear skies at Gros Islet, led by a quickfire 60 from Brandon McMullen and 42 not out from skipper Richie Berrington.
Australia, who had already qualified for the second round, were disappointed with their fielding and start, but Travis Head (68) and Marcus Stoinis (59) accelerated in the last 10 overs to help them win.
T20 World Cup: Australia beats Scotland, moves England to Super 8
Australia won the toss and fielded first, but George Munsey and McMullen set Scotland on a firm foundation with 89 for the second wicket after Ashton Agar dismissed opener Michael Jones in the first over.
“Scotland are a really good outfit, they took it down to the wire and it was a good chase in the end,” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.
“The World Cup kind of starts again now, we’re excited about what’s to come.”
Berrington, whose team left because they had a lower nett run rate than England, said the Scots were frustrated they had not scored.
“I thought we were in a pretty good position,” stated.
“We didn’t execute long enough. I think the boys can be proud of their tournament cricket.”
Glenn Maxwell bowled Munsey out to midwicket for 35, and Adam Zampa bowled McMullen, who hit two sixes and six fours before Mitchell Starc caught him.
Berrington took over, but the Scots scored only 42 runs in their final five overs as the Australian bowlers tightened the screws to make up for a fielding performance that saw several dropped catches.
However, the Scots gained momentum into the Australian innings, as David Warner (1), Marsh (8), and Maxwell (11) were dismissed cheaply, the latter by left-arm spinner Mark Watt with a masterpiece.
Travis Head was warming up, and Marcus Stoinis and him shared 80 for the third wicket to turn the game around.
Head hit three sixes off subsequent legal deliveries from Safyaan Sharif, and the Scottish seamer concluded his innings, but the Australians were confident.
Watt returned to remove Stoinis in the next over, but Tim David and Matthew Wade took Australia over the line to silence conspiracy theories who said Australia would lose to eliminate England.
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