England kept their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive with a crucial five-wicket win over Scotland in their T20 World Cup 2026 clash at Eden Gardens.
Tom Banton steers England to nervy win over Scotland
Chasing a target of 153, the two-time champions endured a disastrous start as openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler were dismissed early, leaving the team reeling at 13/2. However, Tom Banton stepped up with a masterful, unbeaten 63 off 41 balls to anchor the chase. He found reliable partners in Jacob Bethell, who contributed a brisk 32, and Sam Curran, whose 28 runs helped steady the innings after a mid-order wobble. England eventually reached the target with 10 balls to spare, effectively ending their "European hoodoo" in T20 World Cups.
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Earlier in the day, Scotland’s batting lineup struggled to find momentum against a disciplined English attack. Despite a solid 71-run partnership between Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce, the Scottish innings faltered as wickets fell in quick succession. Berrington top-scored with 49, while Michael Jones provided a quickfire 33 at the top of the order, but a late surge from Oliver Davidson was required to push the total to 152.
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England's bowlers were instrumental in restricting the Scottish total, led by a standout performance from Adil Rashid, who claimed 3/36. Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson also played vital roles, picking up two wickets apiece to dismantle the Scottish middle and lower order. This well-rounded performance with both bat and ball has now moved England into second place in Group C, placing their qualification for the Super 8 stage firmly back in their own hands.