Oman knocked out after McMullen, Munsey counterattack

Brandon McMullen's unbeaten 61 helped Scotland jump to the top of the Group B table with a seven-wicket thrashing of Oman, who became the first team officially knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024. While Pratik Athavale's solid half-century knock, aided by a 41* from Ayaan Khan in the second half, helped Oman to a competitive 150/7 on a slow Antigua track, Scotland's top-order came out all guns blazing to make short work of the chase, winning with 6.5 overs to spare after opener George Munsey's rollicking cameo to set them a strong platform.

What was the difference?

The middle overs was where Oman slowed down and on the contrary, Scotland's pair of McMullen and Munsey charged the slower bowlers, taking pitch out of the equation. Scotland batters hammered eight sixes and as many boundaries in the 7.1 overs they took to gun down the target after more or less an equal powerplay between the two sides.

Oman

Positive start despite early strikesPowerPlay: 53/2 (RR: 8.83, 4s/6s: 5/2)

Naseem Khushi's scratchy knock ended with a mistimed premeditated scoop in the third over, off Christopher Sole, but Pratik Athavale decided to switch gears alongside new batter Aqib Ilyas. The captain's stay though was short-lived. He started with a four off Sole first ball and sent the next one from the pacer over deep backward square leg but was trapped LBW by Safyaan Sharif off his second ball of the game. On either side of that dismissal, Athavale displayed his full range of shots as he pulled, flicked and drove to collect a couple of boundaries each off Brad Wheal and Sharif, taking Oman to 53/2 at the end of their first six.

Athavale fifty drives OmanMiddle overs: 60/2 (RR: 6.67 4s/6s: 4/2)

Athavale kept the fight on but Oman lost wickets at regular intervals to slip. Zeeshan Maqsood was done in with a bit of extra bounce and edged behind to the 'keeper while Khalid Kail was run out after Athavale pulled out of the second run. Athavale broke the shackles after 25 boundary-less deliveries, pulling Sole for a six to deep backward square. On 48, the opener was dropped at long-on by George Munsey, who also palmed it over the ropes to give Athavale a 38-ball half-century. The solid knock from the opener ensured Oman made a recovery in the later half of the middle-overs phase.

Ayaan's 41* takes Oman to 150Death overs: 37/3 (RR: 7.4 4s: 4)

Losing Athavale in the 16th over sucked the momentum out of Oman's innings just when they would have been looking to kick on. The opener failed to add any run to his tally since reaching the half-century, and holed out to deep midwicket trying a slogsweep off a tossed up googly from Chris Greaves. Mehran Khan collected a couple of fours in the following overs but edged behind eventually to fall for 13, while Rafiullah was in and out in a jiffy. Ayaan Khan, who had anchored the later half, added a couple of fours off Sharif to make it a 15-run final over that gave Oman a competitive 150/7 on a slow and low Antigua pitch.

Scotland

Scotland make aggressive startPowerPlay: 50/1 (RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 5/3)

After facing a quiet first over, Michael Jones smacked two sixes off Shakeel Ahmed, on either side of the strip, to get Scotland going. However, Bilal Khan ended the opener's fireworks early. However, McMullen and Munsey combined to take the attack to the opposition, dealing in boundaries. Shakeel continued to be expensive in his opening spell, and was duly taken off. McMullen got a life on 6, off Kaleemullah in the final powerplay over, and collected two boundaries to bring up the team's fifty quickly.

McMullen, Munsey kill the chase

Middle overs: 103/2 (RR 14.36, 4s/6s:8/8)

Munsey didn't last two overs after the powerplay, but his aggressive intent ensured Scotland killed the chase in the middle overs itself. He reverse-swept Oman skipper Ilyas for consecutive sixes in the seventh over, before welcoming Mehran Khan into the attack with a four over the bowler's head. He also clubbed a six off him over deep square leg to push Scotland's run-rate above 10. However, the bowler had the last laugh, and got Munsey to top-edge one after a berserk 20-ball cameo of 41. McMullen then took charge, welcoming Zeeshan Maqsood into the attack with a four and closing the over with a six over long-off to bring up Scotland's 100 by the end of the ninth. McMullen got another life on 37, but he raised a 27-ball half-century. Richice Berrington lasted just seven balls, but contributed a six and four to the cause before being knocked over by Ilyas. Matthew Cross, who replaced Berrington in the middle, applied the finishing touches as he slogswept Ayaan for sixes on successive deliveries to level the scores by the close of the 13th over.

What's next for them?Oman stay put, and will take on England on Thursday whereas Scotland have a five-day break, wherein they'll be headed to St Lucia to take on Australia in their last group game, on Saturday.

Brief scores: Oman 150/7 in 20 overs (Pratik Athavale 54, Ayaan Khan 41*; Safyaan Sharif 2-40) lost to Scotland 153/3 in 13.1 overs (Brandon McMullen 61*, George Munsey 41; Bilal Khan 1-12) by 7 wickets