Tom Banton guides nervy England past Scotland

The England cricket team held out for a nervy five-wicket win over Scotland in its third Group C match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.

England, riding on effective spells from Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer, bundled out the Scots to 152. Their chase, however, was far from convincing but a well-placed fifty by Tom Banton saw them through with 10 balls and five wickets to spare.

With little room for error following their loss to the West Indies, England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Jofra Archer gave two-time T20 World Cup winners England early breakthroughs as he dismissed George Munsey and Brandon McMullen in the third over, with the latter bringing up his 50th wicket in T20I cricket.

Sam Curran also struck in the final powerplay over to reduce Scotland to 42/3.

However, Scotland counterattacked with captain Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce stitching together a 71-run partnership in quick time to drive their team past the 100-mark.

Both, however, departed in quick succession. Bruce was the first to go, caught by Curran off Liam Dawson for 24. Berrington followed a couple of balls later, trapped LBW by Adil Rashid just one short of a half-century.

Dawson and Rashid then ploughed through the Scottish lower middle order to bundle them out for 152 in 19.4 overs. Oliver Davidson, with a 15-ball unbeaten 20, was the only one to offer some resistance at the tail end of the innings and helped his team cross the 150-mark.

England’s chase did not start on the smoothest of notes as Phil Salt departed in the first over and his opening partner Jos Buttler followed in the next.

A solid third-wicket partnership between Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton helped England recover from 13/2. By the time Bethell (32 off 28) was dismissed in the 10th over, the world No. 3 team was on 79/3.

Captain Harry Brook’s stay out in the middle was brief as Michael Leask dismissed him for 4.

However, Banton held firm and scored his fourth T20I half-century to anchor England’s chase. He remained unbeaten on 63 off 41 deliveries and was well-supported by Sam Curran.

Will Jacks hit a six and a four off the first two balls of Brad Wheal’s 19th over to close out the match.

This was also a welcome half-century for Banton, who registered just four runs in the earlier two matches of this T20 World Cup. England had edged out Nepal in their tournament opener before losing to the West Indies earlier this week.

England will stay in Kolkata to face debutants Italy in their next T20 World Cup match on Monday.

Click here to read article