Inglis and Bowlers Annihilate Scotland to Clinch T20I Series .

SCOTLAND VS AUSTRALIA, 2ND T20I , 2024, EDINBURGH : Inglis and Bowlers Annihilate Scotland to Clinch T20I Series .

 

Australia showcased their dominance yet again, securing a victory by 70 runs thanks to an outstanding batting performance from Josh Inglis. They posted a total of 196 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Scotland made a promising start but lost wickets quickly, which disrupted their momentum and ultimately left them significantly short in the challenging chase. Marcus Stoinis played a pivotal role in the bowling department, picking up four wickets to clinch the win.

Toss-

Scotland won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Teams Line Up-

Australia:

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Josh Inglis(w), Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa.

Scotland:

George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(c), Charlie Tear(w), Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, Christopher Sole, Brad Wheal, Bradley Currie.

AUSTRALIA

The game was delayed by half an hour due to conditions. When it finally started, Scotland had Australia on the back foot early by dismissing Travis Head for a first-ball duck in the second over. The left-handed opener who troubled Scotland just two days ago was bowled out by fast bowler Bradley Currie. Jake Fraser-McGurk got his first T20I runs with a boundary but was soon caught at long-on by Currie in the next over. Inglis then took charge towards the end of the Power Play. He slammed Brad Wheal for two sixes & a four in a single 19-run over.

Inglis and Cameron Green put together an impressive partnership of 92 runs for the third wicket off just 50 balls. Boundaries flowed effortlessly even after the Power Play ended. This formidable pair elevated Australia’s score from 55/2 in 6 overs to 100/2 at the halfway mark. Inglis reached his fifty in just 20 balls; previously when he achieved this milestone in this format he went on to score a century. On Friday too he replicated this feat despite Currie’s return breaking the substantial partnership with Green’s wicket.

Inglis showcased his aggression against leg spinner Chris Greaves with two sixes in one over & hit another two off consecutive balls from Currie bringing up his century in just 43 balls. He eventually fell in the penultimate over but not before Tim David came in & lit up the last over with quick seven-ball 17 taking Australia close to reaching the significant total of nearly 200 runs on board.

SCOTLAND-

The crowd at Grange Cricket Club had moments of excitement as Scotland displayed brief signs of a fightback. Unfortunately, these were fleeting. Scotland ultimately faltered to a disappointing reply. George Munsey kicked off the chase with two sixes and a four against Xavier Bartlett in the first over. Aaron Hardie, replacing Riley Meredith, struck at the other end, dismissing Michael Jones in just the second over.

Bartlett then further stifled Scotland’s progress by getting Munsey caught at mid-off. Brandon McMullen took it upon himself to keep Scotland in contention and put pressure on Australia with an impressive 42-ball 59. He played shots all around the wicket, but Marcus Stoinis disrupted proceedings by dismissing Richie Berrington in the sixth over. Though McMullen continued to push back after the PowerPlay by finding gaps skillfully, Australia kept chipping away at the other end as Adam Zampa removed Charlie Tear in the 10th over.

McMullen reached his fifty off 38 balls in the 12th over but was dismissed in the next over while trying to accelerate amid a rising required run rate. His exit precipitated a rapid collapse, causing Scotland to lose their last five wickets for just 20 runs. All six Australian bowlers took at least one wicket each, with Stoinis finishing with figures of 4 for 23 across 3.4 overs.

Brief Scores:

Australia scored 196/4 in their 20 overs (Josh Inglis contributing an impressive 103 and Cameron Green adding a solid 36; Bradley Currie picking up 3-37) and defeated Scotland who were bowled out for 126 in 16.4 overs (Brandon McMullen top-scoring with 59; Marcus Stoinis taking an effective 4-23), thus winning by a margin of 70 runs.