Scotland put up a strong fight as they went toe-to-toe with Australia for major portions of the game, but their sloppiness exceeded their brilliance in parts as they eventually succumbed to a five-wicket defeat defending 180.

Strong start with the bat for Scotland aided by poor catching by Australia

Scotland came into the match knowing they needed a victory, or at least a washout, to qualify for the Super Eights after England had managed to beat Namibia in a shortened game in Antigua a few hours ago.

Put in to bat, they came out all guns blazing, racing to 92-1 by the ninth over, led by George Munsey (35 off 23) and Brandon McMullen (60 off 34). They were helped by Austalia's sloppy fielding, where they dropped as many as six catches, three of which were by their captain Mitchell Marsh.

What a night to bring up the 2nd fastest fifty of this World Cup.

Brandon McMullen👏👏 #AUSvSCO #T20WorldCup

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 16, 2024

Australia pull things back at the death

From 134-3 after 14 overs, Scotland would have fancied reaching 200, but could add only 46 runs in the last six overs, courtesy of some smart death bowling by Australia.

Three of the last six overs were bowled by spinners, who conceded 26. The other three, bowled by Mitchell Starc and Nathan Ellis, fetched only 20 runs for Scotland as they finished with an underwhelming total given the position they were once in.

Scotland don't let Australia get away...

With the ball, Scotland were right on the money. They started their second innins as well as they started their first. Australia only managed 36-2 in the first six overs as the required rate shot up to 10.35.

The Scotland spinners kept the leash on through the middle overs as well. At the end of the 13th over, Australia's required rate peaked at 12.71 rpo as they needed another 89 runs in seven overs. Scotland had the fame firmly in their hand at this point.

...until they do

Marcus Stoinis and Travis Head then broke free. Stoinis hit Michael Leask for two sixes and a four in the 14th over, and Chris Sole for two more boundaries in the 15th to bring the equation down to 60 off the last five.

Head then broke the game open in the 16th over, smashing Safyaan Sharif for three sixes, before getting out attempting a fourth. From 12, the required rate dropped to nine as Stoinis (59 off 29), Tim David (24 off 14), and Matthew Wade (four off five) chalked off the remaining runs with ease, winning with two balls remaining.

We have seen it before. Scotland are effective but under pressure, they kind of wilt.

Lost to NED in the qualifiers when they had the upper hand. Lost to Ireland in 2022, when they were in the ascendancy.

Six dropped catches. Australia had to bring their A game to silence the…

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) June 16, 2024

Despite the initial squeeze, Scotland were poor with their bowling plans and execution at the death, as well as their fielding and catching throughout the innings.

Michael Jones dropped Head in the fifth over when he was batting on 15 off 14, Leask couldn't get down in time in the ninth over, giving Stoinis a boundary and much-needed confidence on the first ball of his innings, and Sole dropped a skier in the last over with three needed off four balls.

England qualify, Scotland out

With this result, Scotland were knocked out of the World Cup and England booked their spot in the Super Eights, the possibility of which looked distant a week back.

Scotland players have walked all the way to the boundary to wave at their passionate fans, who’ve lived & breathed every bit of their journey in this #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/A0LukpaKn1

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 16, 2024

Seven of the eight Super Eights teams have now been confirmed, with one spot still to be filled from Group D.