England Hammered Oman to get their Chances into Super 8
3 min readAdil Rashid took 4-11, and England increased their prospects of making it to the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage by bowling Oman out for 47 on Thursday, winning eight wickets in a match that was crucial for the reigning champions.
In a spectacular start, Phil Salt then hit sixes off the opening two balls of England’s innings before getting bowled third ball as England attempted to win as quickly as possible. With a no-ball and a record 3.1 overs and 20 deliveries, they reached 50-2, driven by skipper Jos Buttler’s 24 off only eight balls.
Scenario of England of getting into Super 8
England’s chances of winning the tournament were enhanced by the win’s size as well as its swiftness of accomplishment. With three points, it climbed to third position in Group B, behind only Australia (six points) and Scotland (five points), who had already qualified.
The most significant development is that England’s net run-rate, which was minus 1.800 prior to the game, is now plus 3.08, higher than Scotland’s plus 2.164. Australia, the 2021 champions, will next play Scotland.
England get it done in Antigua 🇦🇬#T20WorldCup | #ENGvOMA | 📝 https://t.co/hrhtHZS64T pic.twitter.com/Jz4FbkIIvE
— ICC (@ICC) June 13, 2024
England lost against Australia by 36 runs after taking a point from their first match against Scotland, which was a washout due to weather. Because of this, it was crucial that it win the game on Thursday and do it decisively in order to raise its run average and future chances.
After winning the toss, Buttler decided to bowl against Oman because he thought that if England was chasing, it would be easier to control the run-rate equation.
England played “exceptionally well,” as per Rashid.
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“We bowled exceptionally well as a team, and I thought Woody and Jofra set the tone at the top,” he remarked. “Bowling the first ball and seeing it spin is always enjoyable. It also sets the tone a little bit more when you get a wicket on the first ball.
In other games, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl first against Papua New Guinea in Trinidad, while Bangladesh defeated the Netherlands by 25 runs in St. Vincent to go one step closer to securing its second-round status. Afghanistan has recently defeated both Uganda and New Zealand consecutively.
England’s Bowler fiery spells
England required speedy wickets. On Thursday, Archer performed admirably, taking his first wicket with the ninth ball of play. He had Salt catch Pratik Athavale at cover from a quick, full delivery.
At 16-2, Archer then removed captain Aqib Ilyas in the fourth over. At the end of the six-over power play, Oman was down to 25-4 thanks to the combined efforts of the England quicks, especially Wood, who claimed the wickets of Kashyap Prajapati (9) and Zeeshan Maqsood (1), both of whom were caught and bowled.
Buttler stumped Khalid Kail (1) off Rashid’s bowling to the first ball of the subsequent over. Rashid also removed Kaleemullah (5), Fayyaz Butt (2), and Mehran Khan (0). The Oman hitters were especially troubled by his googly.
After hitting two sixes off the opening two balls of the England innings, Salt was bowled by Bilal Khan’s third delivery (1-36) as he teed off once again. In a rare instance of composure, Jacks entered and stopped the fourth ball.
With 101 balls remaining, Buttler used his bat to get England home while smashing four boundaries and a six.
Positive England
Now, on Sunday, England will play Namibia. The result of Australia vs. Scotland on Sunday in the other group match still determines its qualifying for the Super Eight stage.
Scotland will qualify if it wins. If Australia prevails with a higher net run-rate, England would probably move on.
“I felt the bowlers really well set the tone,” Buttler remarked. “We finished the job today, and we have another big game coming up in two days.”
The England hitters were instructed “just to be ultra-positive,” according to Buttler.