BRUTAL TRAVIS HEAD BLASTS AUSTRALIA TO VICTORY

A blistering 25-ball 80 from Travis Head guided Australia to victory in their opening T20 International against Scotland, chasing down 155 inside 10 overs.

 

Earlier Scotland had started positively before slipping to 154-9, with George Munsey (28), Matthew Cross (27), Richie Berrington (23) and Brandon McMullen (19) all making starts but failing to kick-on.

 

And that proved to be Scotland’s downfall, as 154 always looked like being short against a powerful Australian top-order.

 

Despite losing Oli Hairs (6) early, Munsey and McMullen took on the Australian attack, with the former striking Riley Meredith for back-to-back sixes over the leg-side.

 

After taking his side past 50 inside the sixth over, Munsey would fall for 28, caught by Josh Inglis off the bowling of Sean Abbott.

 

McMullen would depart soon after, slapping Xavier Bartlett to Jake Fraser-McGurk in the ring, but the experienced duo of Berrington and Cross continued to play positively, as Scotland advanced past 100 inside 12 overs.

 

However, the departure of the Scotland skipper Berrington, removed by Adam Zampa with the total 101, proved to be the key moment, with the hosts failing to build a substantial partnership from that point on.

 

Mark Watt and Jack Jarvis would both strike sixes off Zampa and Abbott respectively as they looked to lift their side up to a defendable total.

 

In the end, Australia’s ability to take regular wickets proved crucial, as Scotland were restricted to 154-9.

 

It was a total that looked short of par, particularly following Scotland’s excellent start, but their defence of that total could not have started better.

 

Third ball of the innings, Fraser-McGurk struck a delivery from McMullen high through the offside, with Charlie Cassell taking an excellent, steepling catch in the ring.

 

Enter Mitch Marsh and Head, who’s brutal display of power-striking took the game away from Scotland inside the powerplay.

 

At one point, 14 consecutive deliveries went to the boundary, Head reaching a stunning 50 in 18 balls, as Australia blasted 113 inside the powerplay.

 

The introduction of Mark Watt slowed the onslaught somewhat, as he removed both Marsh (39 from 12) and Head (80), caught by Michael Leask on the boundary.

 

It would be left to Josh Inglis (26*) and Marcus Stoinis (8*) to finish the job, Stoinis seeing his side across the line in style as he heaved Jarvis over the long-on boundary for six.