Australia started its tour of the United Kingdom comprehensively in a commanding performance against Scotland in the first T20I at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh on 4th September. The Aussies elected to bowl after winning the toss and immediately put pressure on the hosts. Although George Munsey got off to a blinder with 28 off 16, Scotland just failed to garner momentum.
Brandon McMullen chipped in with 19 off 15, while Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross tried to make things right, making 23 off 20 and 27 off 21 respectively. The middle and lower order, however failed to capitalize on the platform provided at the top. Mark Watt and Jack Jarvis tried putting up a fight with 16 off 13 and 10 off 8 respectively.
The bowlers, particularly, were clinical for Australia as Sean Abbott’s three wickets led the way. Xavier Bartlett and Adam Zampa gave ample support with two scalps each. The Scots could only manage to put up 154 for 9 in their 20 overs, a decent score but below-par against the heavy-jointed Australian lineup.
ALSO READ: Babar Azam is going to get big runs very soon, heβs very close, says Jason Gillespie
In response, Australia did not waste much time in the chase. Even without Jake Fraser-McGurk off the third ball of the first over, Travis Head took matters into his own hands and launched a scintillating attack. Head smoked three boundaries off Brad Wheal in the second over and then attacked McMullen for a brutal 20-run over.
He didn’t stop the mayhem even thereafter, taking 14 off the first three balls from Charlie Cassell in the fourth over. Wheal’s return in the final over of the powerplay did little to stem Head’s progress as he plundered a further 26 runs to remind everyone of just how explosive he was in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad.Β At the end of the powerplay, Australia were racing away at 113 – the new record for the highest powerplay score in T20Is.
ALSO READ: Iβve not been up to my own expectations in Test Cricket, says Shubman Gill
Although Mark Watt eventually dismissed Head for an incredible 80 off just 25 balls at a strike rate of 320, the damage had been done. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis finished the job, scoring 39 off 12 and an unbeaten 27 off 13 respectively as Australia chased down the target in just 9.4 overs with ease.
Australia π¦πΊ playing EA Sports in real life 113/1 after powerplay against Scotland π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ pic.twitter.com/xHwH9CH1Lr
β Coz Cricket (@CozCricket) September 4, 2024
Β
Travis Head strike rateβ¦what does he eat manβ¦ π³ pic.twitter.com/G1FTqkvOt5
β DigitalSanghi (@digitalsangghi) September 4, 2024
Β
Australia is on Fire π₯
Remember The Madness king ππ©·
Travis Head ππ©· pic.twitter.com/XQ15RdFJyRβ Rohit Kumar Mandal (@gordxrohit) September 4, 2024
Β
Madman head π
Back at it againHighest score in powerplay in T20Is ever #travishead #AUSvsSCO pic.twitter.com/yJn3VkCkdl
β π (@Kohlixgoat18) September 4, 2024
Β
TRAVIS HEAD! Joint fastest fifty for Australia π₯
| #SCOvAUS pic.twitter.com/ZZgB9aOsS6
β Dr. Raj Upadhyay (@Rajupadhya92013) September 4, 2024
Β
World Record by Australia π
Australia just broke the record of highest power play total in T20i cricket by scoring 113 in 6 overs against Scotland in Edinburgh
Travis Head 73* (22)
Mitchell Marsh 39* (11) pic.twitter.com/BVUhgR1Uzhβ Shahzaib Ali π΅π° (@DSBcricket) September 4, 2024
Β
Fastest Men’s T20I fifties for Australia π¦πΊ:
17 balls – Marcus Stoinis vs SL π±π°, 2022
17 balls – Travis Head vs SCO π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ, today
18 balls – David Warner vs WI π΄, 2010
18 balls – Glenn Maxwell vs PAK π΅π°, 2014
18 balls – Glenn Maxwell vs SL π±π°, 2016#SCOvAUSβ The Stats Kid (@TheStatsKid1523) September 4, 2024
Β
Travis Head – 73 (22)* (SR – 331.8)
πππππ₯π₯π₯π₯#TravisHead #Australia #SCOvsAUS #SRH #OrangeArmy #IPL2024 #GabbarSingh4K pic.twitter.com/fJ29DXEf9Z
β Varun Velamakanti (@VarunSunRisers) September 4, 2024
Β
TRAVIS HEAD MADNESS AGAINST SCOTLAND….!!!!!
β Mahavir Solanki (@Its_mHvR617) September 4, 2024
Β
Australia chased down the target of 155 runs in just 9.4 overs against Scotland pic.twitter.com/riZzTBi3AD
β junaiz (@dhillow_) September 4, 2024
Β