Tom Banton anchors England's chase to keep Super Eight dreams alive

England kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive with a hard-fought five-wicket win over Scotland at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. In what turned out to be a tenseEngland vs Scotland T20 World Cupencounter, Tom Banton emerged as the hero, guiding his side through a tricky run chase to secure two vital points in Group C.

Chasing a modest target of 153, England’s start was far from ideal. Openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the fans in Kolkata stunned. The Scottish seamers found early movement, putting the heavyweights under immediate pressure. However, Tom Banton stepped up when it mattered most.

Banton’s unbeaten 63 off 41 balls was a masterclass in composed aggression. He combined for a crucial 66-run partnership with Jacob Bethell and later added 46 runs with Sam Curran. Despite losing Harry Brook cheaply, Banton stayed firm, smashing four boundaries and three sixes. Will Jacks eventually finished the game in style, hitting consecutive boundaries to seal the win with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, Scotland struggled to capitalize on a solid middle-order platform. Captain Richie Berrington played a captain's knock of 49, but the team lost momentum after his dismissal. England’s bowling spearhead, Jofra Archer, was clinical in the powerplay, claiming 2 for 24 and reaching a personal milestone of 50 T20I wickets. Adil Rashid also played a key role, picking up 3 for 36 to restrict the Scots to 152.

While Scotland will regret not posting a higher total, England will celebrate a win that moves them to second place in the group. The focus now shifts to their final group game as they look to solidify their spot in the Super Eight stage.

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