Scotland loss puts England through to Super Eights

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

CHRIS SOLE spectacularly spilled a catch with Australia, requiring three runs from the last four deliveries, as Scotland crashed to a five-wicket defeat late Saturday night to hand England a spot in the Super Eights of the Twenty20 World Cup.

In pursuit of a competitive 181 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium, Australia entered the final over needing five runs to win, and singles off the first deliveries kept the door slightly ajar from the persistent Scots.

Tim David then skied the third delivery from Brad Wheal to deep mid-wicket, where Sole settled under the ball but then watched in despair as the ball squirted from his grasp.

David, who finished unbeaten on a 14-ball 24, scampered a brace to level the scores and then deposited the next delivery over mid-wicket for six to end the game and complete Australia’s unbeaten run in Group B.

The biggest winners were England, however, Scotland’s defeat leaving both teams on five points but with England boasting a superior net run rate.

“Obviously, it’s hugely disappointing as a group,” said batsman Brandon McCullen, who top-scored with 60 in Scotland’s 180 for five off their 20 overs.

“We’ve played some real good cricket in this tournament so far and the belief was super high going into today’s game.

GOOD START

“We had a good start in the first half of the game and the first innings, and we just couldn’t quite back it up in the bowling.”

Sent in, Scotland lost Michael Jones for two to the sixth delivery of the evening with three runs on the board but rebounded superbly through McCullen, the 24-year-old right-hander thumping two fours and half-dozen sixes in a 34-ball cameo.

He put on 89 for the second wicket with George Munsey (35), and when both fell in the space of 15 balls, captain Richie Berrington struck an unbeaten 42 from 31 balls, with a four and a couple of sixes, to rally the innings.

Australia’s chase began shakily, veteran left-hander David Warner (one) and captain Mitchell Marsh (eight) falling cheaply to leave the chase perched on 34 for two at the start of the sixth over.

Travis Head, who top-scored with 68 off 49 deliveries, put on 26 for the third wicket with Glenn Maxwell (eight), but when the latter departed in the ninth over, bowled by a beauty from left-arm spinner Mark Watt (2-34) that pitched and straightened, the Aussies were 60 for three and in need of a boost.

It came in the form of an 80-run fourth-wicket stand between Head and Man-of-the-Match Marcus Stoinis (59), the latter belting nine fours and two sixes in a stunning 29-ball knock.