England destroy Oman to keep hopes alive

England maintained their hopes of reaching round two of the T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket demolition of Oman in Antigua on Thursday, significantly boosting their net run rate in the battle for the second Super 8s spot from Group B.

Oman were razed for 47 in 13.2 overs – the fourth-lowest score in all T20 World Cups – as the pace of Mark Wood (3/12) and Jofra Archer (3/12) proved too hot to handle for the associate nation and Adil Rashid (4/11) bewitched with his leg-spin.

England then romped to their tiny target in just 3.1 overs, with Phil Salt (12 off 3) crunching the first two balls of the innings for six and opening partner Jos Buttler creaming 24* off eight, including five boundaries in an over.

England’s net run-rate is now superior to Scotland’s and they will reach the Super 8s if they defeat Namibia in Antigua on Saturday and Scotland lose to already-qualified Australia in Saint Lucia hours later.

A Scotland victory over Australia or that game in Gros Islet being rained off would guarantee England are dumped out, as would England vs. Namibia being wrecked by the weather.

Scores: 

Oman 47 (13.2) (Shoaib Khan 11, Jofra Archer 3/12, Mark Wood 3/12, Adil Rashid 4/11)

England 50-2 (3.1) (Jos Buttler 24*)