England Vs Scotland Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Three-Lions Return To Winning Ways With 5-Wicket Victory

Scotland: George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(c), Tom Bruce, Michael Leask, Matthew Cross(w), Mark Watt, Oliver Davidson, Brad Wheal, Brad Currie, Safyaan Sharif, Finlay McCreath, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

"No, I don't think so. That series against Sri Lanka showed that. I thought we played spin really well out there. They (West bowled) well; they kept themselves in the game the whole time. We lost quite a few wickets in clusters, which never really helps...One thing I would say is we were probably a little bit careful"

England have opted to bowl first against Scotland.

Scotland (Playing XI): George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(c), Tom Bruce, Michael Leask, Matthew Cross(w), Mark Watt, Oliver Davidson, Brad Currie, Brad Wheal

England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

Jofra Archer is looking to attack the batters with the new ball as both Michael Jones and Geroge Munsey come out on the crease. They are aiming a steady start before their hitters come on the scene. Munsey, specially will aim to play a long innings and take the innings deep.

Big wicket for England! Archer returns in his second over and dismisses George Munsey. The left-handed veteran of Scotland can bat deep and score the volume of the runs. Him departing cheaply is a body blow for his side. Archer goes length and Munsey tries a pull shot. The ball hits his bat higher and just goes up. Circle fielder settles to take a good catch.

Brandon McMullen departs without scoring and England are elated after dismissing him for a duck. Jofra Archer goes back of length again and his nippy face makes McMullen remove his eyes from the ball while pulling it. Ends up making a nothing shot and the shot gently loops to Phil Salt positioned at square leg. Double strike in one over.

Scotland were looking like they will capitalise on the powerplay despite losing two wickets but by the end of it they lose Michael Jones as well. Jones was looking good as he landed a few shots off Sam Curran in the last over of the powerplay. Curran bowls a slower one to fox him and Jones commits early into the shot skying one in the hands of deep mid-wicket. Scotland will have to grind from here on.

Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce have made their intentions clear and they are going after the England spinners Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid. First Berrington and then Bruce lands some solid strike against the spin duo and they keep adding crucial runs to their total along with a good strike rate. England were precise in the powerplay but they are losing a bit of grip from the game at this phase.

Finally the long-standing partnership between Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce is broken the latter departs. They were going all guns blazing against the England spinners and the eagerness to do it again costed Bruce. Tried to play a sweep over square leg but in the end, ended up hitting it straight to the hands of the fielder stationed there. Scotland will be disappointed to lose a set batter.

Big blow for Scotland as well-set Richie Berrington departs after playing a fiery knock. He was playing a really good innings and was finding the boundaries with ease. But in a matter of balls both set batters Tom Bruce and Richie Berrington are back in the dugout. Tried to play a sweep of Adil Rashid, but the ball dipped on him to strike him on the pads. Umpire gave LBW and the DRS kept his decision up. England ahead in the game again.

Scotland are crumbling and the credits go to the consistency and the resilience of the English spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. They have forced the Scotland players to sweep them repeatedly and stationed the fielders on the onside to take the catches coming their way. Although the last wicket ends up being a Rashid classic where he cleans up the batter with his drift and turn. England are dominating now.

Scotland's innings ends with a run out and they can't play the entire 20 overs. Except for the partnership of Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce in the middle, Scotland misfired for the entire innings. Berrington looked million dollars and he had able support from Tom Bruce, but once they were dismissed, Scotland collapsed in-front of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Rashid claimed three-wickets in the end and Scotland got wrapped up for 152. England will be happy and will back themselves to chase the score down.

Brandon McMullen might have failed with the bat but he strikes in his first over as he removes the dangerous Phil Salt. Length ball on off, Salt throws his hands at it, never tries to keep it down the shot travels straight to the hands of the cover point fielder. Big blow for England early in the innings. Scotland are pumped.

Clumsy cricket from England and they are two down now after losing both their openers. It is Brad Currie who strikes in the last ball of his first over. Jos Buttler was struggling to get the pace of the surface and goes for wild hack. Gets a piece on it and the mid-off fielder runs back to take a good catch. Scotland are clawing back in the game now as they scalp two early wickets.

England and Scotland are on similar places after the powerplay. Both sides lost two early wickets and then consolidated with occasional boundaries. Scotland lost another wicket soon after powerplay while Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton will have to aim that they don't lose one anytime sooner. That will pile more pressure on them.

Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton were stitching a solid partnership. Banton even attacked Mark Watt and launched him for three sixes in one over. The momentum was shifting and England looked in a strong position. This is when Ollie Davidson strikes and gives Scotland a window of opportunity. Jacob Bethell tries to play a falling sweep, but his shot goes straight to the hands of the short fine-leg. Bethell can't believe his luck. Scotland stay alive.

Two wickets in two overs and Scotland make a mini comeback in the game. The target is still very much within the reach of England but seeing the back of England captain Harry Brook will boost the confidence of the Scot bowlers. Brook tries to dominate Michael Leask and attempts a ramp shot. Doesn't get the required connection and the fine leg fielder runs back to complete the catch. England under a little bit of pressure.

Sam Curran and Tom Banton have not hurried at well and despite being in a tricky phase they have brought England out of it. They have knocked the ball around to rotate strike and at the same time found the boundaries when they needed to. They are nearing victory and doesn't look under any kind of pressure. Scotland have been unable to put any strangleholds on them.

Finally the partnership breaks and it is Sam Curran who departs. Hard length on off-stump, Sam Curran clears his front leg to heave, but the steepling top-edge is found, Matthew Cross goes to his right and calls for it to take it easily. England still way ahead in the game but Scotland will believe that they can make things difficult.

Will Jacks finishes things off with a six and a four. England return to winning ways after losing their last match against West Indies. A comprehensive victory in the end but things looked tricky for them here and there. Scotland are disappointed, but they had to do more with the bat. Richie Berrington played a fiery knock but barely received any support. Except Mark Watt, all Scotland bowlers scalped a wicket but Tom Banton's unbeaten 63 was enough to take the Three-Lions over the finishing line/ A victory by five-wickets and England will be a little relieved.

England vs Italy on February 16

Scotland vs Nepal on February 17