A t the end of a tense night in St Lucia it was a team on another Caribbean island who were the most relieved. Watching events unfold from Antigua, Jos Buttler and his players saw their place in the Super Eight phase of the men’s T20 World Cup booked by rivals Australia beating Scotland with two balls to spare. A Scottish victory would not only have secured their first appearance in the last eight of a global men’s tournament but also stuck England, the defending champions, on the first flight home.
And when Richie Berrington’s side racked up 180 for five from their 20 overs thanks to Brandon McMullen’s sweetly-struck 34-ball 60, this shot at history very much loomed into view. Australia fumble to victory over Scotland and save England from early T20 World Cup exit Read more But despite an early wobble from Australia, their place in the Super Eights already assured, the cool heads of Travis Head, 68 from 49 balls, and Marcus Stoinis, 59 from 29, broke the back of the chase in calculated fashion before Tim David, 24 not out, finished the job. It meant Scotland had finished level with England on five points in Group B and yet been nudged out of the top two on net run-rate.
“I think the guys can hold their heads high,” said Berrington afterwards, his Scotland side having topped the group at one stage by following the washout with England by beating Namibia and Oman. “We played some really good cricket throughout the tournament. It was a great learning for us.
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