England edge to victory to leave Scotland on brink

T20 World Cup, Group C, Kolkata

Scotland 152 (19.4 overs): Berrington 49 (32); Rashid 3-36, Archer 2-23

England 155-5 (18.2 overs): Banton 63 (41), Bethell 32 (28); Davidson 1-12

England won by five wickets

England had another wobble but got their T20 World Cup campaign back on track with a five-wicket victory over Scotland in Kolkata – a result that leaves the Scots on the brink of a group-stage exit.

After dismissing Scotland for 152 on a good batting pitch, England lost Phil Salt and Jos Buttler in the first two overs and were 86-4 when Harry Brook was caught for four.

Defeat would have had England facing a humiliating early exit but Tom Banton fought his way through the tension to play the most important innings of his international career to date and secure victory with 10 balls to spare.

He broke the shackles by hitting spinner Mark Watt for consecutive sixes and finished 63 not out around contributions of 32 from Jacob Bethell and 28 by Sam Curran.

Scotland’s application with the ball and in the field was admirable. They were ultimately punished for not taking advantage of the platform set by captain Richie Berrington’s 49, which had his side 113-3 in the 13th over.

Adil Rashid overcame an expensive start to finish with 3-36 for England, while an improved Jofra Archer took two wickets in the powerplay and finished with 2-23.

It means England will confirm their place in the Super 8s by beating Italy on Monday.

Having been lucky to escape against Nepal and been convincingly beaten by West Indies, England are still searching for a complete performance at this World Cup.

They have won World Cups before despite group-stage defeats but improvement is needed if they are to threaten the best in this tournament.

Scotland’s opening bowling consisted of Brandon McMullen and Brad Currie’s medium pace. They found far more movement than England’s bowlers and Salt and Buttler sliced catches to the off-side ring for two and three respectively.

There were no boundaries off the bat in the first four overs.

Bethell brought some calm with his patient knock but England were ultimately grateful to Banton who had not lived up to his talents in his previous 36 internationals.

Unlike Bethell, who was caught trying to help a scoop over short fine leg, and Brook – dismissed in the same fashion – Banton played straight and as a result looked more comfortable than any other batter.

He took only six from his first 10 deliveries and did not hit a boundary until his 11th.

Though Scotland’s score always looked 20 runs below par, England were troubled at one stage.

They took three wickets in the powerplay, including Archer having the dangerous George Munsey and number three Brandon McMullen miscuing pulls in a lively opening spell of three overs, but Berrington countered impressively.

Berrington, a good player of slow bowling, was particularly aggressive against England’s spinners. He hit Rashid for two fours and a six in his second over and was the aggressor in a partnership of 71 with Tom Bruce.

At 113-3 in the 13th over, 190 was Scotland’s target. Instead, the wicket of Bruce resulted in the innings sliding away.

He slog-swept Liam Dawson to deep square leg for 24 – one of six batters to wastefully pick out fielders in the deep.

In the next over Rashid pinned the sweeping Berrington in front as England’s leg-spinner, having gone wicketless for 26 runs in his first two overs, took 3-10 in his second spell.

Dawson, who took 2-34, added the wicket of Michael Leask, also caught in the deep.