England Survive Scotland Scare to Keep T20 World Cup Dream Alive
England’s World Cup campaign was hanging by a thread and for a while in Kolkata, it looked like that thread might snap.
In a high-pressure Group C clash at the T20 World Cup, England edged past Scotland by five wickets, but this was far from comfortable. Chasing 153, a target that seemed manageable on a good batting surface, England stumbled almost immediately. Phil Salt was gone. Jos Buttler followed. Two wickets in the first two overs and suddenly the defending champions were staring at the possibility of a humiliating early exit.
Scotland had posted 152 after being asked to bat and they did it the hard way. Captain Richie Berrington led from the front with a composed 49, guiding his side to a strong position midway through the innings. At one stage, Scotland looked set for something closer to 180 or even 190. But England’s experience showed. Adil Rashid recovered from a costly start to trigger a collapse and Scotland lost five wickets in quick succession. What could have been a match-defining total ended up feeling 20 or 30 runs short.
Still, 152 was enough to apply serious pressure.
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England’s middle order had to dig deep. Jacob Bethell steadied things briefly, but wickets kept falling. When Harry Brook departed with the score in the 80s, the tension inside Eden Gardens was unmistakable. England were wobbling again, just as they had earlier in the tournament.
And then came Tom Banton.
This was the innings of his international career. Calm under fire, disciplined in his approach and ruthless when the moment arrived. He absorbed the pressure early, then shifted gears, taking on Scotland’s spinners and clearing the ropes when it mattered most. His unbeaten 63 anchored the chase and ensured England crossed the line with 10 balls to spare.
For Scotland, the effort was admirable. Their bowling was disciplined, their fielding sharp and their belief visible. But in tournaments like this, missed opportunities are costly. They are now on the brink of elimination, relying on other results to stay alive.
For England, this win keeps their Super 8 hopes firmly intact. Yet questions remain. They have not produced a complete performance in this tournament. Big names are misfiring and consistency is still missing. If they want to challenge the strongest sides in this World Cup, improvement is not optional, it is urgent.
The margin between survival and disaster was slim today. England survived. Scotland fought bravely. And the group stage drama is far from over.
Stay with us for continuing coverage and in-depth analysis as the T20 World Cup unfolds.
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