England vs Scotland, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024 Jun 4 Full score card

FOUR! A boundary to close out the innings and Scotland end with 90 on the board! Adil Rashid tosses it up, full and turning away, on off, Michael Jones rolls his wrists nicely and nails the slog sweep. Hits it wide of deep square leg for a boundary. Not a bad last over though from Rashid, 8 runs off it.

Nicely bowled, yet again! Does not offer any pace and it is short, on leg, George Munsey changes his stance again and hits it to mid on for a quick single.

Flatter and shorter, slower as well, outside off, Michael Jones walks across to get momentum into the shot but mistimes the hit to long on for just one.

Gets the googly in, slower and shorter, on off, George Munsey picks it up and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Oh, that kept very low! Drops it short but takes pace off, around leg, George Munsey changes his stance for the switch hit but the ball scoots through and sneaks under the bat.

Turning away, on a nagging length, on off, Michael Jones punches it to deep cover for one.

Sloppy running but Michael Jones gets away with it! That could have been a very costly error. Jordan serves it on a fullish length, on off, George Munsey takes it on the full and smacks it towards long on. Jofra Archer runs across to his right and hits the stumps at the bowling end. Jones plonks his bat in the direction of the crease, instead of dragging it. The bat gets stuck in the turf and drops out of his hands but luckliy for him, he had his foot grounded inside the crease.

Leg bye! Attacks the pads and gets the ball to skid through, at 141.3 kph, Michael Jones goes for a heave to this length delivery but gets rushed in his shot and fails to connect. The ball rolls away off his pads to point for a leg bye.

Well bowled! Slanting in, on a good length, on off, Michael Jones can only pat this one back to the bowler. A precious dot.

At pace, on off, fuller in length, George Munsey loses his shape slightly and hacks it off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for a run.

SIX! Picked up beautifully! Jordan takes pace off but serves it a bit too straight, on the pads, George Munsey shuffles across and plays the pick-up shot over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Swing and a miss! Angling away, on a length, outside off, George Munsey goes deep in his crease and has a swipe across the line but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Full and sliding on the pads, swept through backward square leg for a single by George Munsey. An expensive first over from Adil Rashid, 18 runs off it.

SIX! Innovative and effective. Adil Rashid under immense pressure. Offers flight, full and around off, George Munsey nails the switch hit this time and hits it over deep extra cover for a biggie. That sounded so sweet.

FOUR! Poor delivery and it gets the treatment. Slips in a full toss, on middle, George Munsey reverse sweeps it well and hits it in front of square on the off side for a boundary.

Half a shout for caught behind but turned down. Jos Buttler has a word with Adil Rashid and takes the review. Did Munsey get an inside edge onto the pads? Or was there any glove as the ball lobbed up? There is nothing on UltraEdge. The third umpire checks for LBW but it has pitched way outside leg on Ball Tracking. Dishes out the googly, on a length, George Munsey goes for the sweep but goes through his shot early. The lobs off his pads behind to the keeper.

Bowls it from the front of the hand and it is flat as well, on off, Michael Jones reaches out and pushes it to cover.

SIX! BANG! Thumped down the ground! Rashid loops it up, right in the slot, Michael Jones crouches and plants his front foot before tonking it over the bowler's head for a flat six.

Pushes it through, flatter and outside off, Michael Jones leans and reaches out to drill it through covers for just a single. Good start by Moeen after the break.

Goes straight up but lands safely! Drags the length back and slows it up from around the wicket, on off, George Munsey goes for the sweep but the ball turns away and catches the top edge. It lobs over the keeper and rolls wide of short third for one.

Tosses it up again, on a length, near the tramline on off, Michael Jones frees his arms and slaps it in front of extra cover for one.

Begins from over the wicket and floats it up, full and outside off, Michael Jones uses his feet and plays it back to the bowler.

We are all set for the resumption. The two umpires make their way out to the centre so do the players of England. George Munsey and Michael Jones stride out to resume their innings. Moeen Ali is all set to finish his over. Off we go...

UPDATE - 11.22 pm IST (5.52 pm GMT) - Right then, we have a restart time, folks! The game will restart at 11.40 pm IST (6.10 pm GMT). It will be a 10-overs-per-side contest. So, Scotland have 22 balls remaining in their batting effort. With it being a 10-over game, 5 bowlers can bowl a maximum of 2 overs now and the Powerplay will be of 3 overs. Let's hope that the weather holds up now and we get through the rest of the game without any more interruptions.

UPDATE - 11.05 pm IST (5.35 pm GMT) - SOME GOOD NEWS! The rain has stopped and the umpires are out there having a look! The Super Soppers are also doing their job. There will be another inspection in around 15 minutes from now. Fingers crossed.

UPDATE - 10.45 pm IST (5.15 pm GMT) - The waiting game continues! Although the intensity of the rain has reduced, it is still steady and the covers are firmly in place. In case you were wondering, the cut-off time for a 5-over chase is 12.22 am IST (6.52 pm GMT, the previous day). So, we still have a decent amount of time on our hands to get a result in this game. Fingers crossed for a positive update.

UPDATE - 10.15 pm IST (4.45 pm GMT) - Nothing new to update! The rain continues to fall and we might just have a curtailed game here. As we wait for the rain to stop in Barbados, you can switch tabs and follow the other game of the day, featuring Netherlands and Nepal.

UPDATE - 9.40 pm IST (4.10 pm GMT) - Positive news! The rain has subsided, and the covers are off. The match officials are satisfied with the conditions and have decided that the play will restart at 9.50 pm IST (4.20 pm GMT) with no overs lost. Scratch that, the rain has returned, and the distant skies look ominously dark. We will be having a further delay. There is a strong breeze blowing across, and let's hope that it blows the rain away.

UPDATE - 9.28 pm IST (3.58 pm GMT) - The rain is back and so are the covers. The players make their way off the field. It is quite heavy at the moment but let us hope it passes by quickly. England actually won't mind this. They are a little under pressure here.

Tosses it up from around the wicket, on off, George Munsey walks across his stumps and presses forward to dab it square in front of point for a single.

Moeen drops it short and bowls it on off, Michael Jones gets on the back foot and punches it through covers for a single. The 50-run opening stand comes up.

Goes really full, outside off, Michael Jones leans on it to force the ball through the off side. Scuffs the shot in front of cover for one. End of a great Powerplay for Scotland.

Thrashed but straight to the fielder. Short and wide on off, Michael Jones frees his arms and slaps it hard onto the turf but can't get it past Will Jacks at backward point.

FOUR! Jordan is being taken to all corners of the park and Michael Jones is making the last over of the Powerplay count. Jordan bowls it on a short of a length, on middle, Michael Jones is waiting on the back foot and the ball sits up nicely for him. Swats it off the front foot through mid-wicket for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Finds the fence again! Jordan takes pace off but offers width on off, on a length, Michael Jones frees his arms and creams the drive through covers for a boundary.

SIX! BOOM! Deposited onto the roof! Jordan digs it in short but it is not short enough, on off and middle, Michael Jones stands tall and gets this one at a good height. Nails the pull over deep square leg for a biggie and that has hit one of the solar panels on the roof.

Honing in at the stumps, on a good length, Michael Jones covers the line of the ball and defends it down the deck.

A dot to end! Around off, George Munsey guides it to point. Despite the no ball, it is still a good over.

Around off, back of a length. Jones pushes it towards cover for one.

Tip and run! On off, good length. George Munsey pushes it towards cover and takes one.

Nothing from the Free Hit then! A good slower one. Fuller and outside off. George Munsey did not expect that. He swings but misses. He was through the shot.

TAKEN! Munsey has to walk back but HOLD ON! The siren goes off and it is a NO BALL! He will be called back! Also, the next ball is a Free Hit! This is short and on off, George Munsey looks to drag the ball but it goes off the top edge. Buttler runs back. He has the short third man fielder right next to him but calls for it and takes it.

Two! Angled into the pads, George Munsey waits and then works it past mid-wicket. Two taken.

A loud appeal but only from the bowler. That has pitched outside leg. Fuller and on the pads. George Munsey looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

WIDE! Way too short and on the body. Ducked under. Wided.

End of a tidy over from Archer. His side needed this. Shorter and on the body. The batter is cramped for room. He pulls but misses to get hit on the shoulder.

Back of a length and around off, this is punched but to cover.

Not a lot of bounce there. Length and outside off, this one stays low. Michael Jones looks to push at it but is beaten.

Fuller again and on the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket for one.

Back of a length and around off, George Munsey pushes it back towards the bowler.

Jones gets off strike. Shortish and around off, this is guided down to third man for one.

Slower this time and around off, this holds in the surface a touch. George Munsey looks to sweep but is through the shot early. It goes off the toe-end towards the off side. Another good over for Scotland.

FOUR! That is nailed! Absolutely nailed! This is tossed up on middle. George Munsey walks right across and then sweeps it hard through square leg. This one races away to the fence too.

On the pads, this is tucked on the leg side for one.

That one takes off. This lands around off, turns away and there is extra bounce too. George Munsey looks to defend but it goes off the outside edge towards short third man for one.

FOUR! Swept away! Trademark George Munsey! On the pads and out comes the sweep. He plays it past square leg and this races away. He really plays the sweeps and the reverse sweeps well.

Fuller and on off, this is driven but to covers.

Oh, not again! The ground staff are hovering around the covers near the fence as it has just started to drizzle a bit. It has gone a bit gloomy as well, but the players stay on for now. Time for early spin as Moeen Ali comes into the attack.

Top edge but two! This is shorter and on off, Michael Jones looks to pull but this goes off the top edge. It lands safe in the third man region and two is taken. End of a good over for the batting side. They are off to a decent start.

BEATEN! Goes fuller and outside off, the sucker ball. Invites the batter to drive and Jones looks to do so but is beaten.

A leave! Do not see that a lot in this format. This is outside off. Good length. This is left alone.

FOUR! That is the best shot of the game so far. Put away with disdain. Another one on the shorter side, the problem here was the width. Jones yet again stands tall and punches it past cover. This time it is right off the middle and it races away to the fence.

Yet again, stands tall, gets on top of this shoritsh ball and punches it past cover for another couple. Good start by these two. They are playing the two pacey bowlers really well.

Confident stroke! Shortish and around off, Michael Jones gets on top of the bounce and punches it past cover for a couple.

It will be Jofra Archer to steam in from the other end.

Decent first over then for Scotland! Wood bowls it on a length and around off, George Munsey guides it to point.

Goes short now and on middle. George Munsey pulls but to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! Shot full of authority! This is full and on middle. Munsey stands tall and hits it over the bowler and down to the long on fence. First boundary of the game and it comes off the bat of George Munsey!

First run off the bat! Michael Jones is underway! Fuller and on middle, this is pushed to the left of mid on for one.

Scotland are underway! Courtesy a leg bye though! On the pads, George Munsey looks to flick but misses. This hits the pad and rolls towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken.

What a delivery to begin with! Wow! This is a fast, yorker on middle. It tails back in also. George Munsey does well to get his bat down in time and jam it onto his pads. Really not easy to keep out such deliveries on the very first ball you face. He does well to negotiate it.

All in readiness to get this all-European clash underway. Cloudy skies greet the two umpires as they make their way out to the middle. Jos Buttler with some final words to his troops in the huddle before taking their places on the field. It will be the left-hand right-hand combination of George Munsey and Michael Jones to open the innings for Scotland. Mark Wood is at the top of his mark and he is raring to go. Let's play...

Right then, after a delay of more than an hour, we are all set to get going. In case you did not know, this is the first T20I meeting between these European rivals. Time for the players to line up for their respective national anthems, then. It will be Scotland's first, followed by the national anthem of England.

UPDATE - 8.40 pm IST (3.10 pm GMT) - We have another start time! The game should begin at 8.55 pm IST (3.25 pm GMT) if there is no more rain with no overs lost. Fingers crossed.

UPDATE - 8.24 pm IST (2.54 pm GMT) - Uh oh! Looks like water has seeped from the covers onto the pitch, resulting in a damp spot on the strip. As a result, we will have a lengthier delay than we had hoped. As the ground staff work on drying that spot, the match officials have scheduled an inspection for 8.45 pm IST (3.15 pm GMT).

UPDATE - 8.04 pm IST (2.34 pm GMT) - Good news! The rain has stopped and it is starting to get a lot brighter. More promising signs as the umpires have made their way out to inspect the outfield. The ground staff are out as well and are preparing to take the covers off. Right then, the game will commence at 8.30 pm IST (3 pm GMT). We lost 30 minutes of game time but no overs have been lost.

UPDATE - 7.51 pm IST (2.21 pm GMT) - Just as we were getting ready for the start of this clash, it has started to rain, and the covers have been brought on by the ground staff. The rain seems to have gotten heavier, and it does not look like we will be having a prompt start. Stick around for further updates.

The captain of England, Jos Buttler, says that they were looking to bowl first. Mentions that it is a great venue to start the title defence and a great country to be hosting the World Cup. He states that he is delighted to have Jofra Archer back in the ranks, and the team has high hopes from him. Informs that Mark Wood and Chris Jordan are playing, and it is Reece Topley who misses out. Shares that the extra pace of Wood is the thinking behind selecting him ahead of Topley.

The skipper of Scotland, Richie Berrington says they want to bat first. Adds that the wicket seems dry. He hopes they can adapt to the surface and put up a good score on the board. Adds there is experience in this group and there are a few younger guys and he’s looking forward for this game. Ends by saying he hopes to do well in the tournament.

Scotland (Playing XI) - George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (C), Matthew Cross (WK), Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Chris Sole, Brad Wheal, Bradley Currie.

England (Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (C/WK), Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

TOSS - Scotland have won the toss and they have opted to BAT first.

Saying that, Scotland can't be considered as pushovers. They too have a lot of quality in their ranks and on their day, are well and truly capable of causing upsets. However, against this England side, they will need to be at their best. They enter this encounter on the back of a thumping loss against Afghanistan in the warm up game. England on the other hand, demolished Pakistan in a T20I series back home. Except for game number 5, all the games have been won by the teams bowling first. Will that continue? Will we see an upset? We will find out. Toss and teams in a bit.

When you talk about tournament favourites, England surely is a team one mentions! Yes, they did not have the bets of campaigns in recently concluded 50-over World Cup but they are the defending champions here and have a squad full of superstars in this format. They begin their tournament facing Scotland and the defending champions will be eager to start their campaign off with a win and they are favourites to do so too. 

... MATCH DAY ...

The ninth edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is in full swing, and over the course of 55 matches, we are about to witness several rivalries renewed. Our focus now shifts to match number 6 as England begin their title defence against their 'Auld Enemy', Scotland, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Having failed to defend their ODI World Cup crown in India, redemption will be on the agenda for Jos Buttler and Co. They have happy memories of the Caribbean, though, having lifted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup trophy for the first time here in 2010. As always, the English squad boasts strong batting depth with the likes of Phil Salt and Will Jacks, who are coming off impressive outings for their respective franchises in the 2024 Indian T20 League. Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, who didn't have the best of tournaments, have regained their touch during the T20I series against Pakistan. Harry Brook, returning after a brief hiatus due to personal reasons, will be eager to make an impact, as will the all-rounder duo of Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali. England will be particularly buoyed by the return of Jofra Archer, who, alongside Mark Wood, forms a fearsome pace attack. Reece Topley and Chris Jordan are the other seam bowling options, with Jordan possessing the crucial death bowling skillset and batting credentials. The veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid's performance will be key to the fortunes of the two-time champions, with Tom Hartley providing an additional spin bowling option. As for Scotland, they qualified as the winners of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier but have had mixed results leading up to the event. George Munsey and skipper Richie Berrington will be the mainstays around whom the batting will revolve for the Scotts. Ollie Hairs and Matthew Cross must step up to share the run-scoring burden with Munsey and Berrington. Having been left out of the Tri-Series squad involving the Netherlands and Ireland, Michael Jones has found a place in the World Cup squad, providing a much-needed boost to the Scottish batting unit, which has struggled for consistency. Michael Leask and Brandon McMullen make up the all-rounder department, with the latter expected to play a much bigger role with the bat than with the ball. Safyaan Sharif, the most experienced member of the Scottish pace attack, has been far off from his best in 2024, putting the onus on Chris Sole, Bradley Currie, and Jack Jarvis. Mark Watt, known for his tricky variations, will lead the spin department for Scotland and will be hoping for support from Michael Leask and Chris Greaves. England in ICC events have been susceptible to upsets, whether it be against the Netherlands during the 2009 T20 World Cup, Ireland and Bangladesh at the 2011 ODI World Cup, versus Bangladesh again at the 2015 ODI World Cup, which knocked them out, or the most recent one against Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Will Scotland be the next team to add their name to this list? We shall find out.