ENGLAND ditched out a hammering to Oman that jet-propelled their run-rate and means they should stay in the T20 World Cup.
Jos Buttler’s bowlers wrecked Oman’s innings for just 47 all out – and then England knocked off the runs in just 3.1 overs.
GettyEngland hammered Oman to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive[/caption]
GettyAdil Rashid was the pick of the bowlers[/caption]
GettyPhil Salt smashed back to back sixes to start the innings – and then got out[/caption]
England’s net run-rate increased from minus 1.800 to plus 3.08 and that number is already ahead of Scotland’s plus 2.164.
It was the perfect response to fast bowler Josh Hazlewood’s claim that the Aussies might consider a go-slow in their final match against Scotland in an attempt to eliminate the Poms.
That tactic – if proved – is against the ICC’s Code of Conduct and Aussie skipper Mitchell Marsh could face a two-match ban if they tried to implement it.
But such manipulation is likely to be irrelevant anyway because England will qualify for the Super Eights if they beat Namibia on Saturday and Australia beat Scotland in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A washout in either game would stuff England, however.
Oman’s hopelessly outclassed batters had no answer to the speed of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood or the wrist-spin of Adil Rashid.
They were routed in just 13.2 overs and only one of their batters reached double figures.
England had never played Oman before and the difference in pedigree soon became obvious.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Archer took a couple of early wickets and then Wood collected two scalps in his first over.
It’s fair to say one or two of the Omanis were distinctly apprehensive when facing Wood’s 90mph-plus thunderbolts.
Then Rashid went to work with his cocktail of leg-breaks and googlies that bamboozled the Oman batters.
Wood said: “We had a point to prove after the last couple of games. We’ve trained really well this week and we showed character and resilience with the way we bowled as a unit. There was some extra bounce and we took our catches.
“Adil is a real asset for us, a magician. The only problem is that he bowls his overs in about a minute so there’s not much time to rest!”
England needed to knock off the runs in 33 balls or fewer to overtake the Scots’ run-rate.
But they weren’t hanging around as opener Phil Salt hit the first ball of the run chase for six over cover and then repeated the feat from the next delivery.
But Salt was bowled third ball attempting another big hit and Will Jacks skied a catch to point.
Buttler had some fun as he plundered 24 not out from eight balls and Jonny Bairstow completed the job with a pull shot for four.
Buttler will now believe his team can start making a big mark on the tournament as they attempt to defend their T20 global crown.