Edgy England survive at T20 World Cup after Scotland scare

A Scotland win over Australia would have put England on the first flight home. And for a while, Jos Buttler’s defending champions were worried.

At the end of a tense night in St Lucia it was a team on another Caribbean island who were the most relieved. Watching events unfold from Antigua, Jos Buttler and his players saw their place in the Super Eight phase of the men’s T20 World Cup booked by rivals Australia beating Scotland with two balls to spare.

A Scottish victory would not only have secured their first appearance in the last eight of a global men’s tournament but also stuck England, the defending champions, on the first flight home. And when Richie Berrington’s side racked up 180 for five from their 20 overs thanks to Brandon McMullen’s sweetly-struck 34-ball 60, this shot at history very much loomed into view.