England (155/5) hold nerve to defeat Scotland (152) by five wickets in match 23 of T20 World Cup 2026

[Ball Blazer]

England face Scotland in Kolkata needing victory to avoid a costly slip in Group B, with Italy also looming as a potential threat. Scotland arrive after a 73-run win over Italy, while England have shown inconsistency despite winning four of their last five T20Is.

The teams have met only once in T20Is, a washed-out game in 2024, where Munsey and Jones shared an unbroken 90-run stand. With a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch and key milestones approaching for Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, progression to the Super 8s remains in England’s control but far from guaranteed.

England: Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

Scotland: Richie Berrington, Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal, Zainullah Ihsan

=======

All posters, please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:

1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staff, etc.

2. No making fun of players', officials', or coaching staff's names.

3. Do not add any references to media, their social media, or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.

4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion, as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Salt tells England to stick 'chest out' as pressure mounts​

Opener Phil Salt called on England to play with their "chest out" in their crucial match against Scotland at the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

A narrow win against Nepal was followed by defeat by West Indies on Wednesday meaning Harry Brook's side must beat the Scots to keep their hopes of progressing to the Super 8s in their own hands.

Captain Brook said England's batters were "too careful" against the Windies - something also reflected in frank discussions in the dressing room afterwards.

"I think getting your chest out and putting the opposition on the back foot, that phrase is used a lot, but I think that's what we do when we're at our best," Salt told BBC Sport.

"When we're at our best, nobody can live with us.

"It's just about getting to that space more often than we have in the last two games."

England, still looking to correct their course after the winter's Ashes defeat. could still progress with defeat by Scotland but it would require a series of results to go their way.

The Scots are in a similar position, likely needing to win to hold onto hopes of progressing.

England have named an unchanged team, with Tom Banton keeping his place over spare batter Ben Duckett.

Banton, who has been out for two in both innings in the tournament so far, and Brook were both dismissed tamely chipping catches off West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie on Wednesday.

It came as England, who came into this World Cup having won 10 of their past 11 T20s, lost six wickets in succession against spin in the middle overs.

"I can't give insights into the mentalities of other guys, but sometimes it can creep in a little bit," said Salt, who thrashed 30 from 14 balls before the slide.

"The differences between playing in bilateral series and tournament play, they are two different things, but the main takeaways from that game were we did possibly bat a bit too tentatively."

The match will be played in Kolkata - the same day as Scotland host England in the Calcutta Cup in the Six Nations.

The rugby union trophy originated in the city, at Calcutta rugby club, formed of British expats who melted down silver rupees to create the silverware.

"It's obviously a pretty cool day for everyone," said Scotland bowler Brad Wheal.

"We just want to go out there and do our country proud.

"So it's a big day for Scottish sport and obviously a massive opportunity for both teams to get a big win going ahead."

Scotland have played both of their matches so far at this World Cup in Kolkata - a defeat by West Indies and a convincing win over Italy - which should give them an advantage.

They impressively reached 90-0 in 10 overs before rain intervened when the sides met at the last T20 World Cup in Barbados.

England travelled from Mumbai on Thursday and trained on Friday evening, though many of their players have experience of Eden Gardens from the Indian Premier League and past internationals.

Salt was an IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and has scored five fifties in nine T20 innings on this ground.

"Usually it's ever so slightly on the slower side and it's a bit tennis ball bouncy," Salt said.

"I think very much it's been a new ball wicket from my days playing here and at the same time the power play is crucial.

"If you win the powerplay here you're in a great position."

T20 World Cup: Phil Salt calls on England to play with 'chest out' against Scotland

Opener Phil Salt calls on England to play with their "chest out" in their crucial match against Scotland at the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

www.bbc.com

 

[SpiritOf1903]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022211146129060124

Scotland getting themselves some nice product endorsements!

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

England have look so unconvincing in this tournament that an upset is possible.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

England have look so unconvincing in this tournament that an upset is possible.

Their previous opponents had 2 spinners causing problems .

Airee and Lamicchhane for Nepal, Chase and an exceptional Motie for Windies .

Not sure Watt, Leask or Greaves can do that

 

[SpiritOf1903]

It's better for England to have been given some rude awakenings.

At their best they're a match for anyone

 

[TeymurBlake]

A MUST win game for England but I am surprised with the line-up & selection they have gone with in this tournament. I would make some changes to the line-up & order.

1. Phil Salt
2. Will Jacks
3. Jacob Bethell
4. Ben Duckett
5. Harry Brook (C)
6. Jos Buttler (WK)
7. Sam Curran
8. Jamie Overton
9. Jofra Archer
10. Liam Dawson
11. Adil Rashid

England can’t try to facilitate Tom Banton, who has traditionally been an opener for Somerset in the middle order position, specially when you have Ben Duckett, Bethell & Harry Brook as options.

Will Jacks has also been traditionally an opener for Surrey & T20 leagues, put him there to reap the benefits of his experience for IPL.

Ben Duckett has a predominantly terrible Ashes, but that doesn’t take away from his abilities as a batter & specially player of spin. Remember seeing him against Pakistan in 2022 at No.4 & really butchering Pakistan spinners.

 

[sweep_shot]

England should win.

 

[BouncerGuy]

England have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

Scotland (Playing XI): George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(c), Tom Bruce, Michael Leask, Matthew Cross(w), Mark Watt, Oliver Davidson, Brad Currie, Brad Wheal

England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Spine tingling national anthem of Scotland.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Fun fact the national anthem that England is singing is also the official national anthem of Scotland but in sports they sing differently

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Jof killed the game

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Kolkata has spun the least out of all World T20 venues so far.

Chalo, looks like England are finally going to beat a European team in a T20 World Cup after 19 long years.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Curran taken to the cleaners!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

But gets a wicket

 

[Rajdeep]

Big game for my manager. He is scottish and hates English. Even supports India over poms

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Scotland doing very well here

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nice crowd in too

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Berrington is the man!

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Rashid needs to get his act together. As a experience bowler hes been pretty Poor.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Big wicket. Probably didn't need to go for that after Berrington had went after Dawson earlier

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No real batting firepower after this. Scots should have looked to survive PP and then accelerated with wickets in hand

 

[DeadlyVenom]

That's the game

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Injudicious approach by the Scots. They don't have the lineup to be too aggresive too early. #6, #7 and #8 are not that great. And bowling is also suspect.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Cheeky scoop over short third.

Brave cricket.
Scotland came to win not just stat pad

 

[aboveandbeyond]

England pulled it back well at the end. They need to improve alot to challenge for the World Cup to be honest

 

[Ball Blazer]

England pulled it back well at the end. They need to improve alot to challenge for the World Cup to be honest

They are appearing as if they are some minnow team. Should chase this in 17th over.

 

[Shaka81]

Considering early on I was expecting us to be all out for under 100, I'll take this. Just need to bowl well now and hope for an England collapse.

Although don't mind losing this one if we win in the Six Nations later!

 

[Bhaijaan]

This Hae could have been England vs Bangladesh, just think about it.

It would have been a blockbuster, in Dhaka.

@BDfanforever @sweep_shot @anikrc1

 

[RidiculousMan]

Hack Salt gone!

 

[Bhaijaan]

OUT

England lose their first wicket in the very first over

 

[RidiculousMan]

This Hae could have been England vs Bangladesh, just think about it.

Too bad Jay Shah turned out a poor ICC Chairman

 

[RidiculousMan]

Buttler gone!

 

[Bhaijaan]

OUT

England 13/2

Jos Butler gone

 

[Shaka81]

Good start, need to keep this going!

 

[RidiculousMan]

I find it surprising that English batters can't play dibly dolbly bowlers. But then again they have filled their T20 team with hacks

 

[aboveandbeyond]

England look short of Confidence. The players they have, they should be performing alot better than this!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Wow

Today, England play Scotland in rugby at Edinburgh for the iconic Calcutta Cup, one of the oldest sports trophies.

About 5000 miles away, England play Scotland in cricket in the very city the above trophy is named after.Coincidences!!

 

[JaDed]

If Scots win this they would had already performed better than Bangladesh.. IIRC they Scots defeated them in 2021 as well.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Scotland’s bowling is presenting challenges.

 

[JaDed]

Clearly England plays in one gear only, they are like the Anti-PCT in terms of batting.

 

[Bhaijaan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022616303174062305

 

[RidiculousMan]

Swing is off. Time for England to chase this quickly

 

[Devadwal]

Brook is most Overhyped player in the World but Delusional people like @RedwoodOriginal hype him too much

 

[Malahide man]

England 109-4 off 14

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England on the move now

 

[Justcrazy]

Easy win for England here.

 

[sweep_shot]

I hope both sides will avoid Nipah virus.

Anyway, England need 34 from 30.

 

[Shaka81]

Ah well, it was fun while it lasted but England have won this now. The Scottish boys did us proud but just didn't have the quality in the end.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Mark Watt single-handedly kept England in front

 

[Justcrazy]

34 from 30 balls required.

Sam Curran proving to be a vital player for English side.

 

[Justcrazy]

Scotland were 25 tuns short of par score here.

 

[Justcrazy]

O U T

Five down

But its too late.

 

[Justcrazy]

18 required from 19 balls.

 

[Ball Blazer]

So it will be England's first in T20 WC vs their (any) European neighbors?
2009 - Lost to by 4 wickets
2010 - No result with
2014 - Lost to by 45 runs
2022 - Lost to by 5 runs
2024 - No result with SCO

 

[Justcrazy]

Banton batting well ....he is a good striker of the ball.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Got over the line. But England must improve, and improve fast.

 

[Justcrazy]

England won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Scotland needed just a bit more in terms of quality to kick England out of this WT20

 

[sweep_shot]

This group is very tight.

Even though England won today, Super Eight qualification is not guaranteed yet. All 4 sides (Windies, England, Scotland, Italy) still have chances.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

So it will be England's first in T20 WC vs their (any) European neighbors?
2009 - Lost to by 4 wickets
2010 - No result with
2014 - Lost to by 45 runs
2022 - Lost to by 5 runs
2024 - No result with SCO

 

[sweep_shot]

View attachment 161673

Wow! Didn't know this.

 

[Ball Blazer]

View attachment 161673

at a point it felt like Scotland could do it.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

 

[Shaka81]

Well at least we won in the rugby today a far more important and celebrated game!

 

[harshjoshi87]

England will be beaten in all their matches in Super 8's in Sri Lanka. Can't play quality spin.

 

[cricket.mad]

Well at least we won in the rugby today a far more important and celebrated game!

Important for whom?

Celebrated by how many ?

 

[sweep_shot]

Important for whom?

Celebrated by how many ?

Rugby is very popular in certain countries --> New Zealand, South Africa etc.

In Scotland, rugby is also more popular than cricket.