Australia did their arch-rivals England a massive favour with a five-wicket win over a gritty Scotland as the Richie Berrington-led side crashed out of the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage race at Gros Islet in St Lucia on Sunday (Indian time).

With England hammering Namibia earlier in the day in a rain-truncated game, all that Jos Buttler’s side needed was Australia’s win over Scotland to keep their Cup campaign alive.

Australia, without their frontline quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, scored 186/5 in 19.4 overs after Scotland, posting 180/5, fought right until the end to keep their hopes alive.

After putting on a formidable total on board, Scotland had even reduced an edgy Australia to 60/3 at one stage. But the Australians’ most successful batters in this World Cup — Travis Head (68) and Marcus Stoinis (59) — delivered again.

“We spoke about sticking to our plans. Scotland are a good team. They have improved a lot and we certainly wanted to respect them,” Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh said after the win. “We just wanted to stay consistent and if we fail, we fail our way. Whenever our team is challenged, it brings the best out of us,” Marsh added.

With Australia’s chase appearing to be falling apart, the in-from Head and Stoinis joined forces to bring them back in the game. On a wicket where batters could swing their willows without fretting much over the pace or movement off the surface, the two seasoned campaigners put the Scottish resolve to a stern test with a sturdy 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket off only 44 balls.

Head smacked four sixes and five boundaries to top score with 68 off 49 balls. Stoinis was more aggressive, cracking nine fours and two sixes to smash 59 off 29 balls.

But before that, there were some nervous moments for the 2021 champions when David Warner (1) was removed from the equation early, skipper Marsh failed to impose himself, and Glenn Maxwell’s torrid run with the bat continued.

Maxwell was done in by one from Mark Watt that straightened enough to crash into the top of the off-stump.

The Scotsmen were heartbroken after coming so close to bagging a Super 8 berth, but they do leave with their heads held high. “I think the guys can hold their heads high. We played some really good cricket throughout the tournament. It was a great learning for us,” captain Berrington said.

Starc retort

Senior Australia quick Mitchell Starc accused journalists of blowing “a throwaway line” from Josh Hazlewood “right out of proportion”. Hazlewood had suggested a few days back that it would be in Australia’s “best interests” to eliminate England at the group stage, speculating a scenario where they could “drag out” their game against Scotland.

Later at the news conference, asked about the sort of speculation heading into the Scotland game and how the Australians were thinking of approaching it, Starc retorted: “I think there’s a big question to be asked about the preceding. I’m not sure I’m a fan of that, but no, I think a throwaway line’s been blown right out of proportion by you lot.

“You don’t stuff around with mother cricket and try to worry about other results. We’re here to win games. It’s international cricket.

“England (are) now on the other side of the draw, so it really doesn’t make that much difference for the next three games. So, yeah, I think that was blown right out of proportion by you guys.”

Brief scores: Scotland 180/5 in 20 overs (Brandon McMullen 60; Glenn Maxwell 2/44). Australia 186/5 in 19.4 overs (Travis Head 68, Marcus Stoinis 59; Mark Watt 2/34). Australia won by 5 wickets.