Twenty20 World Cup: Australia face Scotland in final group stage game to decide England’s super-eight fate
Australia did it the hard way, but survived an almighty scare from Scotland to record a narrow win and save England from elimination at the T20 World Cup.
Recap the action in our blog below.
WARNER GOES!
Just when you thought the English couldn’t dislike David Warner any more than they already do...
The veteran departs for one, skying an attempted drive off Brad Wheal, and there must be genuine belief among the Scots now.
It’s 1-2 after 1.2 overs as Mitch Marsh strides to the wicket with work to do
After 1 over - Australia 0-2
Leask opens the bowling with his off breaks - and starts neatly.
Just two singles off the over and a near run-out. Aussies conservative early.
Run chase time
Brandon McMullen says it was part of Scotland’s game plan to hit with the breeze. Can the Aussies do the same?
David Warner and Travis Head are at the crease and ready to kick things off. England fans everywhere - perhaps for the first time ever - are cheering them on.
INNINGS BREAK - Scotland 5-180
England fans, take a breath. This is going to be much tougher than you’d feared...
The Scots do exceptionally well to reach a total that is more than competitive. It’s bordering on formidable.
McMullen was superb with his quickfire 50, with Munsey also blazing, before captain Berrington (42no off 31 balls) helped them make sure the strong start wouldn’t be wasted.
Ellis and Starc pegged things back late, with no boundaries in the final two overs and just one boundary in the final 29 balls of the innings. But it’ll still take plenty of chasing.
We’ll be back shortly to see if Australia can hunt it down!
After 19 overs - Scotland 5-171
Starc keeps it tight, with nothing more than ones and twos off the penultimate over - and a very close run-out call.
It’s going to be a tricky chase regardless, but Ellis will look to keep it sub-180 as he closes out here.
After 18 overs - Scotland 5-164
Zampa’s done - 1-30 from his four.
It’ll be Ellis and then Starc to close out the innings, with 180+ still very much in play for the underdogs.
Leask goes!
The first wicket from pace for the evening.
Ellis pulls one back a little and Leask skies it to Starc at long on, with the wind playing a hand in holding the ball up a fraction.
It’s now 5-152 with 19 balls left in the innings.
After 16 overs - Scotland 4-149
That’s Agar done in his first match of the tournament: 1-39 from his four.
It included yet another slog-sweep six - something the Scots have done particularly well this evening.
After 15 overs - Scotland 4-138
Maxwell finishes his spell - an expensive 2-44 but helped slow that opposition momentum with the two scalps.
Michael Leask is the new man at the crease, with his captain Richie Berrington anchoring things with a run-a-ball 17.
Agar returns to the attack for his final over
WICKET!
Maxwell has his second!
Cross has holed out to cow corner, and the ball is checked to see if the full toss was above the waist. But it’s a fair delivery and Cross goes for 18.
Scotland now 4-136, with five-and-a-half overs remaining. Can they push toward 180 or can Australia peg it back to 160-something from here?
