Australian defeat Scotland to save England’s World Cup campaign

Australia’s batting masterclass at the World Cup has saved their oldest foes fate in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats.

England will be thanking their lucky stars after Australia pulled off a masterful display with the willow to defeat Scotland by five wickets on Sunday with two balls remaining.

The cricket minnows went berserk after being sent in to bat as they smashed their highest ever total in T20I World Cup history, finishing their innings on 5/180.

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Conspiracy theories erupted among cricket fans who believed the Aussies were deliberately throwing the match away after dropping a men’s World Cup record six catches.

A Scotland win would have eliminated England from the World Cup with Josh Hazlewood igniting the rumours when he said it would be in their best interest if England were eliminated.

But it wasn’t to be for Scotland after Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head pulled Australia out of a deep hole and flipped the script on their opponents.

Australia lost three cheap wickets, which only fuelled the conspiracy theorists, before the duo combined for an 80-run stand to put the Aussies in the drivers seat.

Head finished on 68 from 49 balls while Stoinis’ innings came to an end after 59 runs which came from only 29 balls.

Tim David ultimately blasted the winning runs when he hoisted a ball into the stands to secure the victory.

The match-winning partnership. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Scottish star Brandon McMullen unleashed on the Australian attack as he registered the highest score by a player from a non-Test team against Australia in an international T20 contest.

His innings came to an end after he scored 60 runs from 34 deliveries which included 6 sixes and 2 fours.

Scotland captain Richie Berrington was the next best as he piled on 42 runs from 31 deliveries.

The lose means Scotland’s World Cup campaign is over while England will live to fight another day.

Australia are undefeated at the World Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

1.35pm - Stoinis bowled and it’s game on

The danger man is gone with Marcus Stoinis back in the sheds after being clean bowled.

The powerful Aussie looked to have it on easy mode as he smacked the white ball to all parts of the ground.

Australia require 26 runs from the final three overs with Matthew Wade joining Tim David at the crease.

1.30pm - Travis getting in on the act

Travis Head built the foundation for the Aussies as he made his way to 50 runs from 45 balls.

With five overs left to play, the opener flipped the script on Scotland as he went nuclear with a devastating three sixes.

He attempted to make it four straight but holed out the fielder at long-on with the Aussies now four down and still requiring 41 runs from 26 deliveries.

The 16th over saw the Aussies score 24 runs with Marcus Stoinis bringing up his half century with a four on the last ball.

1.20pm - Stoinis goes WHACK

The run rate looked to be getting away from the Aussies but Marcus Stoinis unleashed as he blasted 16 runs from three balls.

With six overs remaining in the innings, the Aussies require 71 runs with Stoinis and Travis Head combining for a 50 run partnership.

The Aussies need to go at 12 an over if they’re to pull off the win and stop what would be a monster upset.

12.55pm - Maxwell the next man to go

The stunning upset looks well and truly on here for Scotland with Glenn Maxwell the third Aussie to be sent packing.

A peach of a delivery from Mark Watt completely stumped Maxwell with the Aussie star trapped on the crease as the ball skidded past and thundered into his off stump.

Opener Travis Head is doing all he can but his batting partners are a revolving door right now with the Aussies still requiring 121 runs for victory from 70 deliveries.

Bowled him. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

12.40pm - Conspiracy theory erupts as Marsh goes

Mitch Marsh has become the second Aussie to fall after holing out in the deep. The skipper added eight runs from nine deliveries as the run rate climbs away from the Aussies.

Fans watching on are not happy with the display with many believing the wickets are deliberately being thrown away to hand Scotland the win.

A Scotland win would elevate them into the top two in the group and would eliminate England from the World Cup.

One user wrote: “Are you blind? @ICC this is also spot fixing.”

A second wrote: “So if Australia throw this game, as seems obvious, surely they should be chucked out of the tournament? Match fixing is match fixing.”

A third however wasn’t buying in to the conspiracy theories: “When the mighty Scotland beat Australia, all the flat earther English types will be crying about conspiracies and match fixing, when it’s a 20 over match, them type of matches often don’t go to form.”

12.30pm - Aussies fall into an early hole

The run chase has got off to a nightmare start for the Aussies with David Warner skying a loose shot high into the sky.

Berrington camped underneath the ball and safely took the catch to send the veteran Aussie opener on his way for only 1 run.

Skipper Mitch Marsh has strolled out to the crease to join Travis Head as the Aussies look to produce the miracle win.

Originally published as Australian defeat Scotland to save England’s World Cup campaign