Follow UsEngland entered their clash against Namibia on June 15 (Saturday) needing a win to stay alive in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but, for a very long time in Antigua, it looked like rain would end up sending Scotland through to the Super 8s.
Heavy rains prior to the game delayed the toss and inevitably the match. That was still fine, but things got really scary for England when start-stop heavy rains took away three hours from the contest.
The Three Lions eventually ended up playing a shortened game and winning it comfortably, but Jos Buttler admitted after the game that it was a stressful evening for his boys.
“Big relief and a stressful day when the rain was coming down,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation.
“We managed the situation well and we played well.”
After being asked to bat first on a tacky surface, England posted 122/5 in 10 overs in the shortened contest. They managed to score that many after being reduced to 14/2 inside two overs. The England skipper said that his side won the game by posting a score well above-par.
“That was a really good score on that wicket. When I got out, I was thinking 85-90 was a good score with the way the ball was sticking on that wicket. Fantastic from Brook, Bairstow and Mo.”
On the day, the middle-order came to the party for England. Buttler and Phil Salt departed cheaply but Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali combined to score 107 off just 48 balls.
Buttler was full of praise for the middle-order, which stepped up at a crucial time.
“Fantastic from Brook, Bairstow and Mo. They are class players, they have been hitting the ball well and credit to those guys, they put together a vital partnership.”
England will need Australia to now beat Scotland in the clash later today to progress to the Super 8s.
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