AUS VS SCO Match 35, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Australia VS Scotland, Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

That is all from this game! The actions continues in the World Cup as later in the day, Pakistan will take on Ireland. The action from Group A starts at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) but as always you can join us earlier for the build up. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

The skipper of Australia, Mitchell Marsh says that they spoke pre-game about sticking to our game and trying to win. Mentions that Scotland have improved a lot and they have huge respect for them. Adds that it was a good chase and the talk was about staying consistent. Feels that pressure brings out the best of them and it was a good experience before the Super 8 stage. Feels that the World Cup starts all over again now and they are excited for what is to come. When asked if there was a chat about England, he replies that it was more externally than internally but their focus was on winning the game and he is happy to have done that.

Richie Berrington, the skipper of Scotland feels they were in a good position with the bat but failed to get some runs in the back end. Shares they started well with the ball but a couple of big overs helped Australia to get back in the game. Tells it was hard to hit across the breeze and their plan was to make them hit away from the wind. Reckons they were expecting a bit more with the bat after the position they were in but says the boys can hold their heads high, it is a great learning for them.

Marcus Stoinis is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock. He says that the plan was to get in and assess the situation from there. Feels that the wicket was really good but with the strong breeze, it was important to target the end it was easier to hit from. Tells that Travis Head picked his bowler and pretty much turned the game around with those three sixes. Shares that playing consistently over the past 3-4 months has helped him to retain his form and get the runs.

...Presentation ceremony...

Still, Australia had a job in hand, chasing 181 wasn't going to be easy! Australia lost Warner and Marsh very early on. Glenn Maxwell was bamboozled with a lovely delivery by Mark Watt. However, Travis Head held one end and was hoping for someone to hang around with him. Marcus Stoinis was the answer, the Hulk of Australia took all the pressure away as he dealt with boundaries, using his power and bringing out reverse sweeps more often than we have seen before. Marcus Stoinis took Leask on in the 14th over for 18 runs and that's where the momentum shifted. From there on there was only one winner. Scotland did manage the wickets of both the set batters but till then the job was already done.

You feel gutted for Scotland, they worked so hard to reach this stage, giving themselves a big chance to qualify for the next round but we feel they lost the battle in the first innings with the bat. They were on course to post a big score, close to 190 to say so but Scotland produced just two boundaries in the last six overs and credit to Australia for the way they bowled. It was not going their way in the initial half of the first innings as Brandon McMullen and George Munsey manufactured an 89-run partnership to put them in a strong position. However, Australia after the halfway mark came up with a different, better plan to pull things back quickly and put a lid on the run flow.

The rivals have done it! Australia have helped England to qualify for the Super Eights! What an iconic line to write, right? All the off-field talks have been brushed away as the mighty Aussies who only know one thing and it is to win, chase the total to finish Group B on top but take their arch-rivals, England along with them to the next round.

SIX! THAT'S IT! Tim David clears the fence with ease and takes Australia home! A heartbreak for Scotland who gave it their all but have still fallen short. England have Australia to thank as this outcome sees them through to the Super 8 stage. Brad Wheal lands it right in the wheelhouse for Tim David, on off and middle. David was never going to miss out as he picks the bones out of this one and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Australia win by 5 wickets and keep their unbeaten record in this World Cup intact.

DROPPED! Oh, no! Chris Sole puts it down! England fans are happy, Scotland not so. Would not have been a worse time than this for a catch to go down from the Scottish perspective. Serves it full and on off and middle, Tim David shuffles across for a big heave on the leg side. Skies it high in the air towards deep square leg where Chris Sole runs to his right but never looked comfortable under it. The ball curves away late from him and he shells it as the ball pops out and the batters run two.

Another single! Comes from around the wicket and delivers it on a length, outside off, Matthew Wade loses his shape as he hacks across the line and gets it off the inner half of the bat to long on.

Gets a good yorker in, angling in, at the toes, Tim David gets his bat down and jams it out in front of wide long on for a single. Scotland need a wicket here.

Persists with the same line, wide on off, on a length, Tim David drags the shot down to long on for one. Right then, we are going to the final over with Australia needing 5 runs.

WIDE! Sees the better move to the off side and goes even wider does Sharif but it is beyond the tramline. Wide given.

A misfield and they get back for the second. Safyaan Sharif is very lucky to have gotten away with a full toss. Bowls it on off, Tim David shuffles across and swipes it to the right of deep mid-wicket where the fielder fails to gather it cleanly and allows David to retain the strike.

Goes short and it is around middle, Matthew Wade rolls his wrists and controls the pull down to deep backward square leg for one.

Too funky and it does not come off! Lands it in the channel on off, on a short of a good length, Matthew Wade tries to reverse sweep it behind square on the off side but fails to connect.