AUS VS SCO - 35th Match, Group B, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

Scotland head up back but they head back home with their heads held high. They battled like bravehearts today, and Australia might have taken away the 2 points from them today, but they certainly can't take away the battling spirit shown by Scotland against the odds. For a nation that faces about 300 days of rain in a year, Scotland have managed to build a cricket team that gave an almighty scare to both England and Australia - two powerhouses of the sport. Time to close the chapter on Group B of the World Cup, we'll be back with all the action from the other groups tomorrow. Bye for now...

To beat the best, sometimes you need to be the best. Australia proved once again today why they are the reigning champions in most formats across age groups and genders. They weren’t at the races today, but managed to jockey their way past the finish line in a game of no consequence for them. Mitch Marsh and co. would maybe now expect a prolonged standing ovation at Lord’s the next time they are traveling because they have done their old rivals a huge favour out here!

Mitch Marsh: We knew that we had qualified. We spoke about sticking to our plans. Scotland are a good team, they have improved a lot and we certainly wanted to respect them. We just wanted to stay consistent and if we fail, we fail our way. Whenever our team is challenged, it brings the best out of us. Today we were challenged and it was a good experience and a good game of cricket. We start fresh now. T20 is a hard format and you need to stay focused at all times. (On chat about England) It was all more externally than internally, we won today. That's all that matters.

Richie Berrington: I thought we were in a good position. We were in a great position for the first 10 overs We had a really good start but it was a good wicket and we should have executed a bit better with the bat. They have a few good strikers in their team and they managed to pull it back at the back end. There is a bit of breeze on this ground, so we were trying to make them hit away from the crease. A few overs we didn't nail, and they capitalised. We were expecting a bit more with the bat after the position we got ourselves in, but all the guys can hold their head up high. A fantastic knock from Travis Head and then Stoinis. We are disappointed but this is a great learning for us.

Stats round-up by Roshan Gede

Most consecutive wins in T20 WC
7* - Australia (2022-2024)
7 - England (2010-2012)
7 - India (2012-2014)
6 - Australia (2010)
6 - Sri Lanka (2009)
6 - India (2007-2009)

Highest targets chased by Australia in T20 WC
192 vs PAK, Gros Islet, 2010 SF
181 vs SCOT, Gros Islet, 2024
177 vs PAK, Dubai, 2021 SF
173 vs NZ, Dubai, 2021 Final

Marcus Stoinis in run-chases in T20 World Cup
24*(16) vs SA, Abu Dhabi, 2021
16*(10) vs SL, Dubai, 2021
40*(31) vs PAK, Dubai, 2021 SF
7(14) vs NZ, Sydney, 2022
59*(18) vs SL, Perth, 2022
59(29) vs SCOT, Gros Islet, 2024
Total: 205 runs at 102.50, SR: 178.26

Australia’s run-chase
Overs 1-13: 92/3 (RR: 7.08)
Overs 14-19.4: 94/2 (RR: 14.11)

Marcus Stoinis | Player of the Match - The plan was usual, get yourself in, play nice shots, try to hit the ball hard and then assess the situation. There was a strong breeze and that was the area to hit, the pitch was really good and I thought the Scots batted well. We (himself and Head) were just talking about batting along, take on one bowler and I think he changed the game with those three sixes. I've been playing consistently, getting chances over the last 3-4 months and in the IPL, that's helped me keep up with the form and get the runs.

Stoinis went on the attack from the get go, and the momentum shifted in the 14th over when Leask was taken down for 18 runs. Travis Head proved to be the killer of dreams once again, as he hit Safyaan Sharif for a hat-trick of sixes to make Australia the favourites. Head couldn't stay till the end, and neither could Stoinis who both fell after fifties. However, the damage was already done and Tim David then providing the finishing with his trademark late cameo. Scotland gave it everything, they fought for every ball and every run, but a couple of dropped chances perhaps cost them the game in hindsight. Back shortly for the presentations...

23:50 Local Time, 03:50 GMT, 09:20 IST: Chin up, Scotland! Y'all fought like bravehearts, and despite the loss the cricketing world is going to remember this gargantuan effort for a largely unfancied team for months on end. Scotland were dreaming for a long, long time today. They played some impeccable cricket for the first 35 overs on the game, but then Australia managed to flip the switch and outclass their opponents on sheer experience. Chasing 181, Australia lost David Warner early and lost Marsh too in the final powerplay over. Scotland bossed the first phase of play, and kept things tight even when Maxwell and Head were batting in the middle. Maxwell was dismissed by a jaffa from Watt, but that brought Stoinis to the crease and that's where the game turned.

Wheal to Tim David, SIX, six and with that ball goes Scotland's chance of qualying for the Super Eights. Tim David does finish it off with a glory shot, it was a full delivery at the stumps from Brad Wheal. David stayed deep, got under it and launched it over cow corner for a huge six. Australia win by 5 wickets, England qualify for the Super Eights.

Wheal to Tim David, 2 runs, in the air.... dropped!! Chris Sole the fielder, that will settle the game. He'd want the earth to open up and swallow him whole. The worst time to drop a catch. A full delivery on off, David went for the glory shot. Went for a big heave across the line and hits it a kilometer up in the sky. Sole from deep mid-wicket settles under it but can't hold on

Wheal to Wade, 1 run, full outside off, Wade hacks it across the line towards long-on

Wheal to Tim David, 1 run, right in the blockhole from Wheal. Stabbed down to long-on

5 off the last over. Australia should have this in the bag, but Scotland will still believe!

Safyaan Sharif to Tim David, 1 run, full and wide, drilled powerfully down the ground and hits the umpire. Deflects off him towards long-on

Safyaan Sharif to Tim David, wide, wide yorker, ends up getting it too wide

Safyaan Sharif to Tim David, 2 runs, full toss outside off, David with a big swing across the line to the right of deep mid-wicket. Couple more runs added