England have kept their hopes of a last-eight appearance at the T20 World Cup alive by thrashing Oman by eight wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
In response to needing to get close to Scotland's far superior net-run-rate, Jos Buttler's side produced the most dominant performance in the history of the competition in terms of balls required to chase down a target.
Minnows Oman were bowled out for just 47, decimated by the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood and the spin wizardry of Adil Rashid.
The defending champions were aware that reaching their target in just over five overs would take them above Scotland's net-run-rate, yet England required just the 19 balls to seal the win.
On Saturday, England must now beat Namibia and hope that Australia overcome Scotland. If any other results play out, England will be eliminated.
England's net run rate soars to 3.081 after their win against Oman 👀 pic.twitter.com/g0TY9fTBI5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2024
Archer, Wood justify faith
Archer and Wood posted combined figures of 1-60 off seven overs against Australia having failed to take a single wicket versus Scotland, but their qualities were on show after England won the toss.
Oman made it to five overs having lost just the two wickets, but that became 25-5 just seven balls later. Shoaib Khan showed some resistance with 11 off 23, but Rashid soon got in on the act with a magical spell of 4-11.
Archer and Wood each ended with figures of 3-12, and it set up Phil Salt and Jos Buttler to swing freely in the hope of getting England over the line as soon as possible.
Salt became the first player in T20 World Cup history to hit sixes off the first two balls of an innings, before losing his wicket the next ball.
What a performance from England 🤩
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 13, 2024
They defeat Oman by eight wickets and in just 3.1 overs 😱 pic.twitter.com/TKSCFliFe0
Will Jacks soon followed for five, but Buttler battered 24 off just eight deliveries, posting four boundaries and one six. Jonny Bairstow hit two fours off his only balls.
What did Buttler have to say?
While the England skipper was surprised with how the wicket at North Sound played, he was full of praise for how his bowlers adapted.
He said: "I thought the tone was set really well by the bowlers, picking up the early wickets. Job done today, another big game in two days' time.
"There was that extra bounce, Topley with his height and Jofra with his high release point. They're really challenging bowlers on this surface, and they bowled a good line and length.
"I don't think any of us expected the wicket to play like it did, it looked a really good wicket but Rashid found spin."
The weather forecast for both of the remaining games is currently in England's favour with a washout or an uncompleted fixture seemingly out of the question.
Darren Plant
