England defeated Scotland by five wickets in their T20 World Cup clash on Saturday in Kolkata, thanks to an undefeated 63 from Tom Banton, which put Harry Brook’s team on track to the Super Eights.
England will advance to the next round if they defeat Italy in their last Group C match on Monday at the same Eden Gardens stadium. England amassed 155-5 in 18.2 overs after bowling Scotland out for 152. Jacob Bethell scored 32, Sam Curran scored 28, and Will Jacks (16 off 10 balls) smashed a six and a four to complete the task.
England chase got off to a shaky start as the new white ball swung menacingly under the lights with dusk settling in. Phil Salt was dismissed off just the third delivery, edging Brandon McMullen for two. Soon after, Jos Buttler fell trying to take on Brad Currie, picking out McMullen in the field, leaving England reeling at 13/2.
Before Bethell broke the shackles by hitting McMullen for a six and two fours in the fifth over, Scotland bowled tightly. Spinner Mark Watt conceded 22 runs in his opening over as Banton hit him for three massive sixes.
A 66-run partnership came to an end when left-handed Bethell on 32 assisted Oliver Davidson’s leg-side delivery into Brad Wheal’s hands at short fine leg. Although England was always in control and reached home with ten balls remaining, captain Brook did not last long, scooping Michael Leask over his shoulder to Wheal to make it 86-4.
Earlier, England’s bowlers discovered their magic and supported Brook’s choice to field after winning the toss. At Eden Gardens, England’s attack exercised far more control after being hammered to every corner of Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium during Wednesday’s 196-run loss to the West Indies.
Scotland’s captain, Richie Berrington, scored 49 runs off 32 balls, including 2 sixes and 5 fours. Although it was their only noteworthy stand, he and Tom Bruce put on 71 for the fourth wicket.
Bruce was caught for 24 in the 13th over by spinner Liam Dawson, with Curran offering the safe hands at deep square leg. Scotland lost their final seven wickets for 39 runs at 113-3 after Adil Rashid trapped Berrington leg before wicket in the following over.
Despite being costly in the two previous games, Jofra Archer made the early inroads and finished with an incredible 2-24 off his four overs. He forced George Munsey to top-edge to Banton in his second over, and two balls later, Salt caught McMullen in the deep.
Scotland finished the six-over power play at 42-3 after Michael Jones (33) holed out to Bethell off Curran. Scotland never threatened a competitive score. With 3-36 from his four overs, Rashid was the top bowler for England, while Dawson took 2-34.
