Australia Vs Scotland, T20 World Cup Highlights: Aussies Win Narrowly; England Through To Super Eight

Welcome to the highlights of our coverage of match 35 of ICC T20 World Cup 2024, played between Australia and Scotland at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia (West Indies) on Sunday (June 16). Scotland pushed Australia to the limit, before losing steam and the match by five wickets. The Scots batted with flair and freedom to post a 180-run total, and had the Australian batting on the ropes for huge chunks, but Marcus Stoinis (59 off 29 balls) played a match-winning knock and was supported well by Travis Head (68 off 49), as the Aussies romped home in the last over. The result means England are through to the Super Eight stage, while Scotland miss out narrowly. Catch the highlights of the AUS vs SCO match at T20 WC 2024, right here. (Match Report | Scorecard | Full Coverage)

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in T20 internationals.

Australia have won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh(C), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(WK), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.

Scotland: George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(C), Matthew Cross(WK), Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Chris Sole, Brad Wheal, Safyaan Sharif.

Mitchell Marsh: "Looks like a really good surface. It's like another World Cup game and we have a lot of respect for Scotland. Two changes: Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been rested, and Mitchell Starc and Ashton Agar come in."

Richie Berrington: "We would have batted first, looks like a good surface, an opportunity to get a score on the board. We like a challenge like this, you'll have to take on the best teams in the world and come up trumps. We're playing the same team. We've been here before, beaten some good teams, we'll just have to play well and execute our plans."

The umpires and both teams are out for the national anthems, for one final time in the group stage.

Play gets underway, with Australia's left-arm spinner Ashton Agar bowling the first over. George Munsey and Michael Jones at the crease for Scotland. A tidy over ends with a lucky breakthrough for Agar, as Jones chops the last delivery on to his pads and the ball trickles back into the stumps. The Aussies begin in right earnest.

Brandon McMullen is in at number 3, and makes an impression soon enough with a glorious lofted drive over long off for six against Nathan Ellis. Scotland will not go down wondering, that's for sure.

George Munsey clobbers Glenn Maxwell for two sixes and a four as the Scottish batters continue to take advantage of a true pitch and the powerplay restrictions. Some great, unfettered hitting from Munsey and McMullen takes Scotland to 54 runs in the powerplay.

Australia break the flourishing partnership via Glenn Maxwell. George Munsey holes out to deep midwicket, but not before scoring a 23-ball 35. Meanwhile, Brandon McMullen has got to a 26-ball half-century at the other end. Things getting really interesting here - Scotland have amassed 96 runs in the first 10 overs. If you are an England supporter, stay right with us.

Adam Zampa shows his class yet again, teasing McMullen out with a wide, flighted delivery outside off. The flamboyant right-hander can only manage a thickish outside edge that carries to a diving Mitchell Starc at short third. The dangerman falls after smashing 60 off 34 balls, and Australia gain control of proceedings.

Australia pick up their fourth wicket in the 15th over, and Scotland lose Matthew Cross who was looking in good touch. The Scots have 138 runs on the board. Let's see how many they can get off the next 30 balls.

Scotland are not getting the acceleration they desire at the back end of the innings, as the experienced Aussie bowlers are finding the right lengths and lines to restrict run-scoring. Captain Richie Berrington is still in the middle, however, and eyeing a final flourish.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Ellis keep the runs down in the last two overs. Scotland can only get 42 off the last five overs as what threatened to be a 200-plus total is down to 180. Stay tuned to find out if the Scottish bowlers can defend this sizeable target and cause a major upset.

Michael Leask is entrusted with the new-ball responsibility and the off-spinner does well, conceding just two runs in the first over to David Warner and Travis Head.

Brad Wheal gets rid of the destructive David Warner in the second over, and Scotland rejoice. Travis Head has since warmed up and been joined by captain Mitchell Marsh, but the Scots are not giving away free runs. The required run rate is nearing 10 RPO now, but 15 overs still to go. Early days in the chase, but this could be a close contest.

Scotland's left-arm spinner Mark Watt beats Glenn Maxwell all ends up with a beauty. The hard-hitting batter is clean bowled as Australia lose their third wicket, and a mighty crucial one at that. Game on!

The spinners are keeping a lid on the scoring rate and even though Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis are in the middle, Australia still need 94 runs from 47 balls. An asking rate of 12 runs per over; could be tricky for sure.

While the pressure is still on the Aussie batters, Travis Head has got to his half-century off 45 balls. An uncharacteristically slow effort from the southpaw, who now needs to tee off or stay till the end to steer Australia home.

Travis Head (68 off 49 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (59 off 29 balls) both depart after playing game-changing innings. The asking rate is now down below 10 an over. Tim David and Matthew Wade at the crease now. Most would fancy Australia to win from here. Can Scotland produce a twist in the tale?

The match goes to the last over, and Tim David, dropped off the third ball, punishes Scotland with a resounding six that seals Australia's victory, as also England's passage to the Super Eight. And with that, Scottish hopes of advancing are dashed.

Marcus Stoinis is the Player Of The Match for his superb half-century (59 off 29 balls). Here's what he said after Australia's win:

"The plan was to get yourself in and hit it hard along the ground. And then access from there. There's a strong breeze, which meant that end was easier to hit from. The pitch was also very good. (Travis) Head picked his bowlers and pretty much turned the game in that over with three sixes even though he got out. I have been fortunate to play consistently for the last 3-4 months starting with the IPL but there's no substitute for confidence. That's the recipe we all try to keep a hold of."

Richie Berrington: "I thought we were in a pretty good position at the halfway mark. Unfortunately we couldn't capitalise towards the end. We had a really good start with the ball but we couldn't execute it for long enough. A few big overs towards the back end got them back into the game. There was a breeze at the ground, so we were just trying to get them to hit away from the breeze. I think the guys can hold their heads high. We played some really good cricket throughout the tournament. It was a great learning for us. Obviously we are a bit disappointed given the position we were in. We came here to qualify but couldn't do that."

Mitchell Marsh: "We spoke about sticking to our game. Scotland are a pretty good outfit and have improved a lot in the last few years. We spoke as a group to stay really consistent in how we want to play. Having already qualified, there was little less pressure on us. The World Cup kind of starts again now. It's going to be a busy schedule. T20 is a hard format. We are excited for what's to come. [On chat about England] I think more externally than internally."

With that, we wrap up our coverage of this thrill-a-minute match between Australia and Scotland. We will be back with live updates from the Pakistan vs Ireland game. Until then, goodbye.