ENG VS OMAN - 28th Match, Group B, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

England’s NRR has taken a massive jump courtesy their one-sided win against Oman – it has now shot up to +3.081, going well past Scotland’s NRR of +2.164. The body language of the English players was on the money from the moment they stepped onto the field. Their killer instinct to make a statement today has worked to perfection. The defending champions will not only heave a sigh of relief but they will be soaring high with confidence. They take on Namibia next and they just need to ensure they win that game. They also need to rely on Australia though to defeat Scotland. On the other side, the campaign comes to a close for Oman. They showed sparks of brilliance but were blown away by Scotland and England. The experience of a mega event will do Oman a world of good. That’s it from our side. Until next time, goodbye and take care!

Jos Buttler | England Captain: The tone was set very well by the bowlers by picking up those early wickets and restricting them to that total. We’ve got another big game in two days. I thought they bowled brilliantly. There was some extra bounce, thought they bowled really good lines and lengths. There was some spin, don’t think any of us expected the surface to play like it did. Adil bowled exceptionally well. The message was to be ultra positive. We spoke of taking our chances to boost our NRR. We know what’s going in the dressing room, there’s huge confidence. (On the SCO v AUS game) We can only focus on ourselves, we have a huge game up against Namibia and our focus is on that.

Aqib Ilyas | Oman Captain: Nothing much to say, it is visible. We couldn’t do well with the bat. Top order couldn’t score runs throughout the tournament. It was good exposure but there wasn’t much we could do. With no runs on the board, the bowlers didn’t have a chance. We’re used to playing bowlers that bowl in the 130-140kph range in associate cricket. So it’s difficult when once in a year you play against bowlers bowling 150+, there is something in your mind. It’s a different thing when you’re used to playing such bowlers. You don’t really see fielders so up (close) playing against associates. The batters were also under pressure having not got runs in the last few games. Unfortunately bad shot selection and they bowled in good areas. You can’t blame the bowlers for anything, throughout the tournament they’re the ones that did really well. Would have liked to finish on a great note. We have a lot to learn from the big players. Usually you don’t get to learn from top players so this was a great opportunity to rub shoulders with them. We have to work harder, if you want to have an impact you need to work a lot harder.

Stats by Roshan Gede

Three England bowlers - Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood - bagged three or more wickets in the Oman innings, the first such instance in the Men's T20 World Cup.

47 all-out is also Oman’s lowest in all Men’s T20Is, the previous being 78 all-out vs Nepal at Al Amerat in 2022. It is also the second-lowest T20I total against England, after West Indies’ 45 at Basseterre in 2019.

Lowest team totals in Men’s T20 WC
39 - Uganda vs West Indies, Guyana, 2024
39 - Netherlands vs Sri Lanka, Chattogram, 2014
44 - Netherlands vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 2021
47 - Oman vs England, North Sound, 2024
55 - West Indies vs England, Dubai, 2021

Biggest win margins in Men’s T20 WC (by balls remaining)
101 - England vs Oman, North Sound, 2024
90 - Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Chattogram, 2014
86 - Australia vs Namibia, North Sound, 2024
82 - Australia vs Bangladesh, Dubai, 2021
81 - India vs Scotland, Dubai, 2021

Adil Rashid | Player of the Match: Thought we bowled exceptionally well. Felt good to see that first ball turn so much. Obviously getting a wicket first ball sets the tone as well. I tried to adjust in the first over or so. It was spinning quite a bit so it was hard to keep it in the wickets, that meant I had to bowl outside leg a little bit. (On a 5-fer) Yea I was looking for it, if I got it great, if i didn't it was fine. We’re going to take it one game at a time. We’ve got Namibia next.

16:44 Local Time, 20:44 GMT, 02:14 IST: That win was exactly what England needed to get their campaign back on track. They needed a big win to boost that NRR and they couldn’t have hoped for much better. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Archer and Wood ran through Oman’s top-order in the powerplay before Adil Rashid came in and completely broke the spine of the batting order. Wood and Archer picked up 3 wickets each while Rashid finished with 4. Needing just 48 to win, England, expectedly came out all guns blazing. Salt struck the first two balls of the innings for sixes before getting out bowled. Jacks couldn’t get going once more but Buttler and Bairstow ensured that there were no further hiccups to get the job done in just 3.1 overs.

Fayyaz Butt to Bairstow, FOUR, that's the game! This has been a proper thrashing! Shortish delivery on the hips, Bairstow swipes it through backward square leg to get the desired result. Just the kind of game England needed with Super 8 qualification on the line

Fayyaz Butt, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

Bilal Khan to Buttler, FOUR, pitched up ball outside off, Buttler clears his front leg and slices it over covers for yet another boundary. 22 off the over

Bilal Khan to Buttler, SIX, 127kph shortish delivery slanting across Buttler. He lines it up and pulls it with aplomb over cow corner for a 89m six. England are just one hit away now...

Bilal Khan to Buttler, FOUR, slower full ball outside off, Buttler reads it well and slogs it over wide mid-on for a one-bounce boundary

Bilal Khan to Buttler, FOUR, shortish delivery around the hips, bread and butter stuff for Buttler as he nails the pull through backward square leg to find the fence

Bilal Khan to Buttler, no run, a low full-toss outside off, Buttler toe-ends the drive to extra cover

Bilal Khan to Buttler, FOUR, shot! Buttler skips down the track, gets close to the pitch of the ball and hits it past the left side of mid-off for a boundary

Kaleemullah to Bairstow, FOUR, short and width on offer, Bairstow cashes in and upper cuts it over cover-point to get off the mark with a boundary

Jonny Bairstow, right handed bat, comes to the crease