England the big winner after Australia struggle past Scotland

In the aftermath of the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s last year, England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum remarked of Australia that “I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer with them any time soon”.

Following a late show of Australian hitting in Antigua to vanquish brave Scotland, England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott should consider sending a case of thank-you champagne to Marcus Stoinis (59, 29 balls) and Travis Head (68, 49 balls).

Their power games helped deliver a five-wicket victory, and ensured England would qualify for the pointy end of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, ending any notion of Australia easing up to allow the Scots free passage to the next round.

England’s progression may have also saved the jobs of former Australian women’s head coach Mott and skipper Jos Buttler, who each entered the Cup under considerable pressure following a wretched ODI World Cup defence in India last year.

With nothing to gain from the final pool game, Australia’s players had toyed with the possibility of playing a part in England’s elimination. Josh Hazlewood said as much publicly, although head coach Andrew McDonald and senior fast man Pat Cummins were far less amenable to the idea.

Buttler’s team qualified because Australia won handily, thus upholding the spirit of cricket in English eyes. They will meet again at least once before this tournament is done.

Chris Sole’s dropped catch in the last overCredit: AP

Australia’s T20 captain Mitchell Marsh says the team spoke about how they wanted to play against Scotland, having already qualified for the next stage of the T20 World Cup.

“Tonight, having already qualified, there was a bit less pressure on us, but whenever our team has been challenged it brings the best out of a lot of our group,” Marsh said.

“We were pushed right to the end there and a bit of experience came through.”

Unbeaten Australia finished on the top of Group B, with England second on run rate from Scotland. The top two teams from all four groups go through to the Super Eights. They are divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group going through to the semi-finals.

“The tournament sort of starts again now,” Marsh said. “We’ve made it through to the Super Eights. It’s going to be a busy schedule. We’ve got a lot of trust in our group that we can keep winning games of cricket.

“T20 is a hard format. You can be slightly off and lose to anyone, as we almost saw today.”

Tim David and Matthew Wade congratulate each other after Australia’s victory.Credit: Getty Images

Just like he did against Oman when Australia struggled to get moving in their opening game, Marcus Stoinis shifted the momentum of the match against Scotland and was rightly awarded for it.

Stoinis scored 59 from just 29 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Against Oman he made an unbeaten 67 from 36 balls with six sixes.

“It was the usual get yourself in, hit some nice shots, try and hit the ball hard along the ground, and then assess the situation,” Stoinis said, who praised the pitch.

“We saw they batted really well, so we knew it was going to be a good wicket. It felt like if you could get yourself in and face a couple of balls, assess the conditions, and then you could target that side (with the wind).”

Player of the match Marcus Stoinis.Credit: AP

In the aftermath of the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s last year, England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum remarked of Australia that “I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer with them any time soon”.

Following a late show of Australian hitting in Antigua to vanquish brave Scotland, England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott should consider sending a case of thank-you champagne to Marcus Stoinis (59, 29 balls) and Travis Head (68, 49 balls).

Their power games helped deliver a five-wicket victory, and ensured England would qualify for the pointy end of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, ending any notion of Australia easing up to allow the Scots free passage to the next round.

England’s progression may have also saved the jobs of former Australian women’s head coach Mott and skipper Jos Buttler, who each entered the Cup under considerable pressure following a wretched ODI World Cup defence in India last year.

With nothing to gain from the final pool game, Australia’s players had toyed with the possibility of playing a part in England’s elimination. Josh Hazlewood said as much publicly, although head coach Andrew McDonald and senior fast man Pat Cummins were far less amenable to the idea.

Buttler’s team qualified because Australia won handily, thus upholding the spirit of cricket in English eyes. They will meet again at least once before this tournament is done.

Chris Sole’s dropped catch in the last overCredit: AP

In a match that will be remembered as much for its dropped catches as much as its powerful batting, there was drama all match until Australia snatched a hard-earned victory.

With four balls remaining and three runs required, Tim David attempted to finish the game with a mighty blow over midwicket but skied it into the deep. Chris Sole moved to his right and sat under the ball but it bobbed out and Australia ran two to level the scores.

David finished the game in style, lifting the next delivery deep into the crowd.

Australia have gone through the group stage undefeated. They rested pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for this game, then made difficult work of the match, dropping five catches.

Tim David finished the match with a six.Credit: AP

Australia have beaten Scotland by five wickets with two balls to spare, allowing England to progress into the second stage of the T20 World Cup.

With three runs required Tim David was dropped in the deep. He hit the following ball for six to seal victory.

Australia require five runs from the last over to beat Scotland and allow England to continue in the T20 World Cup.

Tim David was performing his role as a late-burst man, manufacturing three boundaries in a row during the 18th over, including four leg-byes to fine-leg.

Australia: 5-168 from 18 overs needing 181.

Travis Head smashed three sixes and was caught attempting another in the 16th then Marcus Stoinis went an over later attempting a third successive boundary as Scotland sensed a major upset. Head made 68 from 49 balls and Stoinis 59 from 29.

Australia: 5-155 from 17 overs needing 181

Travis Head has played an uncharacteristic anchor role in Australia’s run chase against Scotland, bring up 50 in 45 balls.

Australia: 3-121 from 15 overs requiring 181

Marcus Stoinis has upped Australia’s tempo struggling run chase against Scotland, hitting successive sixes as 18 came from the 14th over.

Australia: 3-110 from 14 overs needing 181