T20 World Cup: Tom Banton to the fore as England see off spirited Scots

For those of a tartan persuasion, it was time to summon the words of another great Scotsman, Private James Frazer of Dad’s Army fame: “We’re doomed!”

This competition has been a free hit for the Scots, however, after Bangladesh’s late withdrawal and they have by no means disgraced themselves even if, in the finish, England always looked in control of a sometimes nervy chase, sealing their pursuit of 153 with five wickets and 10 balls remaining.

This was effectively a knockout fixture at Eden Gardens, with both sides having won one and lost one and with one more game after this still to play.

Sent into bat, Scotland were going well at 113-3 with three balls left in the 13th over, recovering after losing their first two wickets in the space of three balls to Jofra Archer in the third over.

But when Tom Bruce - as opposed to Robert the Bruce - slog-swept Liam Dawson to deep backward-square, ending a stand of 71 in 41 balls with his captain, Richie Berrington, it triggered a collapse that left Scotland perhaps 30 short of a competitive score.

They lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs in 7.1 overs, Berrington leading from the front with a fine 49 from 32 balls with five fours and two sixes; Bruce striking 24 from 18; opener Michael Jones clubbing 33 from 20, and No 9 Olly Davidson an unbeaten 20 from 15.

Scotland fielded tigerishly and bowled well at times, taking two wickets in the first two overs as the dangerous Phil Salt and Jos Buttler gave catches. A stand of 66 from 45 between Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton steadied matters, although they were back in the balance when the loss of Bethell and Harry Brook in quick succession left England 86-4 in the 11th.

Having had a quiet World Cup to that point, Banton had changed the feel, however, in the ninth over when he struck three sixes off Mark Watt as the left-arm spinner conceded 22 runs from it in total.

Banton and Sam Curran then shared 46 from 33 which put the issue beyond doubt, Banton going on to an unbeaten 63 from 41 with four fours and three sixes and deservedly earning player-of-the-match.

With both sides unchanged and a good crowd in situ, it had all the makings of a competitive game, with Archer making his early presence felt by having George Munsey and Brandon McMullen caught with the score on 18.

Jones struck the first three balls of Curran’s first over, the last of the powerplay, for 4, 4, 6 but from the penultimate ball his bottom hand came off the bat as he tried to pull a slower delivery and he was caught at deep mid-wicket, Scotland 42-3 at the end of the powerplay.

Adil Rashid conceded 26 from his first two overs, including 18 off the second, but hit back strongly to finish with 3-36.

After Dawson’s key capture of Bruce, the Yorkshire leg-spinner had Berrington lbw sweeping, Matthew Cross caught at deep-square and Watt bowled through the gate.

Scotland showed an uncanny facility for picking out fielders deep on the leg-side and were much more effective when they hit the ball straight. Dawson claimed his second scalp when Michael Leask top-edged him into that leg-side field, then Brad Wheal pulled Jamie Overton to mid-on and Brad Currie was run out as Scotland were dismissed for 152 with two balls left.

Salt lofted the third delivery of the reply to cover; Buttler skied to mid-off; Bethell picked out short fine-leg - as did Brook, then Curran skied high in the air.

Will Jacks won it with a six and a four off Wheal as the wheels, perhaps to minor relief, stayed on for Brook and his team.