Australia broke Scottish hearts with a hardfought five-wicket victory in St Lucia on Saturday that sent the Scots home from the Twenty20 World Cup and title holders England through to the Super Eight stage.
After England’s rain-disrupted victory over Namibia in Antigua earlier in the day, Scotland needed a draw, a washout or a first ever win over Australia to progress from Group B at the expense of their southern neighbours.
Clear skies at Gros Islet meant the Scots would be reliant on their cricketing skills and they made a good fist of it with 180-5 from their 20 overs highlighted by a quickfire 60 from Brandon McMullen and 42 not out from skipper Richie Berrington.
Australia, who had already booked their spot in the second round, will have been disappointed with their fielding and the start of their innings but Travis Head (68) and Marcus Stoinis (59) accelerated in the last 10 overs to help get them across the line.
Scotland landed an early blow with the ball, as Brad Wheal forced David Warner to sky a delivery that moved across him — Berrington wasn’t going to drop it.
After the fall of Warner, Travis Head tried to take the initiative to keep Australia’s chase ticking over. But there was more trouble for Australia soon after when captain Mitch Marsh holed out at deep midwicket to start the sixth over.
The Aussies’ Powerplay looked nothing like Scotland’s, arriving at the six-over mark 36/2 – 18 runs shy of where the Scots were.
Australia’s first six finally came in the seventh over, courtesy of Head, who moved into the 30s. But he’d witness another dismissal at the other end, as Maxwell (11 off 8) was beaten by a fierce Mark Watt ball that spun away from the right-hander and clip the off stump.
The Aussies got to the halfway stage at 74/3 with Marcus Stoinis at the crease and plenty of work to do.
Head and Stoinis then lead the Aussie fightback with a partnership of 80 runs that included 12 boundaries. Head got to 50 before putting one down the throat of Michael Jones at long off, with the Aussies 140/4 in the 16th over.
That did not stop Stoinis, who continued the assualt. Having already saved Australia’s bacon once this tournament already, against Oman, he pounded 59 runs off 29 balls before finally missing one — bowled attempting a reverse sweep rummy bo.
Tim David (24 of 14) and Matthew Wade (4) then took the team home with 2 balls to spare.
Earlier, fine knocks by Brandon McMullen and George Munsey powered Scotland to formidable total in their T20 World Cup Group B match against and Australia in St. Lucia on Sunday.
McMullen fired a 26-ball half century before being dismissed for 60 runs while Munsey scored 35 off 23 balls as the Scots put up 180-for 5, their highest total in the T20 World Cup.
England’s victory over Namibia on Saturday night means Scotland must win this one to go through.
However, defeat will bring the Net Run Rate into play, where England hold the advantage. Both England and Scotland have five points.
Australia, already qualified from the group, won the toss and opted to send Scotland in. The Aussies made a few changes from the side that beat Namibia. Ashton Agar came into the team and it looked like a masterstroke, as he took the wicket of Michael Jones in the first over.
However, Scotland quickly overcame the early blow, blasting away in Powerplay through McMullen and Munsey. Munsey went 6-6-4 to end the fifth over, a costly sequence off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling.
McMullen led the assault in the first six overs, though, leading the Scots to 54 runs in the Powerplay for the loss of just one wicket.
It laid the perfect platform for the underdogs. The punishment continued and McMullen brought up his 50 off just 26 balls in the eighth over.
Maxwell then made the breakthrough, dismissing Munsey, who scored 35 off 23, at the end of the ninth, ending a brutal 89-run partnership.
Scotland pressed on, as the Aussies let them off the hook a couple of times, grounding half-chances in the field. They got to 96 for 2 at the drinks break and then captain Richie Berrington joined the fray with a boundary that took Maxwell’s figures to 41 for 1 off three overs.
In-form spinner Adam Zampa then removed McMullen (60 off 34), a pivotal moment. It was a spirited 12th over that cost the Aussies just one run.
Maxwell fought back in his final over, pinching the wicket of Matthew Cross (18 off 11) with a full toss that fell just short of the rope.
Berrington had to take the reins for Scotland, as Australia worked hard to put the brakes on the Scots’ run rate. The Scottish skipper anchored the second half of the innings, helping his side push to a total of 180.
Maxwell was the only bowler that picked up multiple wickets, finishing with 44/2 off four overs, while Berrington made 42* off 31 balls rummybo.