Scotland set Australia 5-180 in T20 World Cup

Scott Bailey | June 16, 2024

Scotland have given themselves a chance of causing an upset and knocking England out of the Twenty20 World Cup after racking up 5-180 against Australia in St Lucia.

Needing a win to qualify for the Super Eight stage ahead of holders England, the Scots posted the highest total by a non-Test-playing nation against Australia.

With Australia already through to the next stage and resting quick Pat Cummins, Mitch Marsh’s team grassed five chances of varying difficulty.

But Scotland were also imposing with the bat, with No.3 Brandon McMullen hitting 60 from 34 balls and dispatching Australia’s spinners to all parts.

The right-hander clubbed half-a-dozen sixes in his knock, regularly going inside out over long off and slog-sweeping through the legside.

He was eventually well caught at short third-man by Mitchell Starc, when Adam Zampa (1-30) slowed up the pace of the ball and beat him in flight.

Zampa was Australia’s best with the ball, while Glenn Maxwell picked up 2-44 but copped some punishment along the way.

The allrounder got the crucial wicket of George Munsey for 35 when he out-thought the left-hander and had him caught sweeping.

At that point Scotland were 1-92 in the ninth over, and threatening to post a total well beyond 200.

But Munsey’s dismissal, and that of McMullen two overs later, meant the Scots only added 84 runs from the second half of their innings 

England had earlier kept intact their hopes of progressing when they beat Namibia in a rain-affected match in Antigua.

Hazlewood had joked earlier in the week that Australia might consider doing their best to knock their oldest rivals out of the tournament.

But players have since been adamant they want to enter the Super Eight stage in form and with a win, with India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh almost certain to be in their group.