England players and fans would have had their hearts in mouths as they watched Australia’s clash against Scotland which was crucial for their survival in the T20 World Cup 2024. After dropping as many as six catches to let Scotland set a target of 181, Australia were behind in the run chase before Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head took control of the run chase. Scotland had a few chances in the end but lacked the experience to close out the game. Australia won by five wickets with two balls to spare to knock Scotland out of the tournament and help England progress to the Super 8 stage.
Eventful powerplay overs
Earlier, Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first. He dropped Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to give a chance to Nathan Ellis and Ashton Agar. The left-arm spinner knocked over Michael Jones off the last ball of the first over. Brandon McMullen hit the first six of the innings in the third over. In Starc's second over, two catches were dropped and McMullen hit a six. Glenn Maxwell was introduced in the attack and George Munsey targetted him. Munsey hit him for two sixes and a four. After powerplay overs, Scotland were 54/1.
McMullen goes berserk
Adam Zampa could not stop a free flowing McMullen and hit him for a six followed by a four. Agar was brought back into the attack and McMullen hit him for a couple of sixes. He got to his half-century from 26 balls. Maxwell was given another chance. Munsey hit him and got caught off the next ball. He scored 35 runs from 23 balls. At the halfway stage, Scotland were 96/2. In his third over, Zampa ended McMullen's stay at the crease. He scored 60 runs from 34 balls including a couple of fours and six sixes.
Scotland post a threatening total
Meanwhile, Starc came back to bowl in the 14th over. Matthew Cross went for a pull shot but found Zampa in the deep who dropped the catch. In the 15th over, two catches were dropped in a row. Cross was dismissed off a full toss. He scored 18 runs from 11 balls. Skipper Richie Berrington made the most of the reprieves. Michael Leask struggled to score freely and fell to Leask in the 17th over. No boundaries were scored in the last two overs. Berrington's 31-ball 42 helped Scotland post 180/5.
Poor start
Australia's run chase got off to a poor start. Leask conceded just two runs. Brad Wheal in his first over dismissed David Warner with a slower one. He bowled a wicket-maiden. Marsh hit the first boundary of the run chase and Head followed him too. In the sixth over, Marsh lost his wicket to Safyaan Sharif. Australia were 36/2 after powerplay overs. In the seventh over, Head hit the first six of the innings. Maxwell came to bat and hit Leask for a six. Left-arm spinner Mark Watt knocked over Maxwell with a delivery that held its line. He scored 11 runs from eight balls. Head could not hit big despite playing himself in. Stoinis wasn't much troubled but the scoring rate was going out of hand.
Stoinis paves the way
Stoinis broke free in the 14th over as he hit Leask for a couple of sixes and a four. He hit Christopher Sole for a couple of boundaries. In the same over, Head reached his fifty from 45 balls. In the 16th over, Head made up for the dot deliveries. He hit Sharif for three sixes before getting caught at long-off. The opener scored 68 runs from 49 balls. Stoinis hit two fours off reverse sweeps against Watt before getting bowled in the 17th over. He scored 59 runs from 29 balls. Tim David did not take much time to settle and hit Wheal for three consecutive fours to release the pressure. Scotland could not keep the pressure on new batters and lost the match by five wickets as David finished the game in style with a six.
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