🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: M23: ENG vs Scotland at Kolkata🏏 - Page 7

Congratulations to Tom Banton for winning the Player of the Match award.

63* (41) & 2 catches

England with an easy win in the end. Thanks to Tom Banton. He was under pressure with two low scores coming into the game but showed why he has been picked in this side. He has been striking the ball so well in this format in recent times. And today he took down Mark Watt en route to a match-winning knock. Scotland didn't have enough on a wicket which had just the hint of grip and turn for the spinners. Sweeping them proved fatal as the likes of Bethell and Brook found out. When Brook got out, the game was in the balance but the stand between Banton and Sam Curran eased all the nerves. The job was done with 10 balls to spare and that takes England to 2nd spot in the group. A morale-boosting win after their loss to West Indies in the last game.

Tom Banton in T20Is

1st inns: 12 inns, 195 runs at 17.72, SR: 137.32

2nd inns: 15 inns, 413 runs at 37.54, SR: 160.07

Banton vs LA orthodox in T20Is

Before today: 125(77), 8 dismissals, Avg: 15.62, SR: 162.33

Today: 36(16), SR: 225, 4s/6s: 1/3

Batters playing sweep shots vs spin in this game

Slog-sweep: 7 shots, 2 runs, four dismissals

Conventional sweep: 7 shots, 14 runs (4s: 3), two dismissals

Mark Watt in T20Is

In wins: 38 matches, 58 wickets at 14.6, SR: 14.3, ER: 6.08

In defeats: 39 matches, 33 wickets at 34.48, SR: 25.6, ER: 8.07

England vs European teams at T20 WC

Lost by 4 wickets vs Netherlands, Lord’s, 2009

No result vs Ireland, Providence, 2010

Lost by 45 runs vs Netherlands, Chattogram, 2014

Lost by 5 runs vs Ireland, Melbourne, 2022

No result vs Scotland, Bridgetown, 2024

Won by 5 wickets vs Scotland, Kolkata, 2026

Tom Banton | Player of the Match: Yeah, definitely. I think, obviously, a tough game against West Indies. Full credit to them. But yeah, I think our full focus was on tonight and then obviously on to Italy in two days' time. Yeah, definitely. It's T20 cricket. It's a high-risk game. And you've got to keep backing yourself at times. It goes against you. And it's hard. You've got to keep coming back, keep trying hard, keep practising. But yeah, luckily, today's my day. I think so. When I watch cricket on TV in India, it seems to be absolute carnage. And I thought it was going to be pretty similar in Mumbai. But there was a bit of spin and a bit of hold. But yeah, it's nice to get on a really good wicket here tonight. I think so. It was pretty, I would say, a bit low on the low side. And yeah, obviously I'd like to sweep and reverse. But I think my plan was to go as straight as possible. And then when they missed short, try and pull it away. Yeah, it's different. I think when your matchup comes on, you've got to really try and take it down. And yeah, keep backing yourself. You've got to give yourself a chance as well, kind of learn. And look, I think the situation kind of dictates how you're going to bat. I think today I could give myself a bit of a chance. Good wicket, fast score outfield. And yeah, I only chased 150. So I just thought, give myself a chance and then try and catch up down the line. Yeah, I hope so. Look, I just want to win games for England. If I'm contributing, then look, that's amazing. But if not, that's sometimes how it is.

England grasp the thistle, and ensure Super Eights qualification remains in their hands. Tom Banton finishes on 63 not out from 41, the perfect knock in what was at times a tricky chase under the Eden Gardens floodlights. The Kolkata Cup has been claimed by the cricketers, but Scotland will hoping they can cling on to the the tin in the rugby later tonight...