Australia shatter records in first T20I against Scotland
Australia have got their T20 series against Scotland off to a blistering start, chasing down a target of 155 with more than half their innings remaining on Thursday morning (AEST) in Edinburgh.
The win was the biggest-ever margin in terms of balls remaining in successful 150-plus run chases, and the highest successful chase inside 10 overs.
Travis Head spearheaded the effort, becoming the first man to score 73 runs in the powerplay of a T20I.
He also made 97.5% of his runs via boundaries, plundering a record-breaking 16 in the first six overs.
Having won the toss, the visitors put Scotland in to bat first.
The home side struggled to form any significant partnerships, spluttering to a sub-par total of 9/154.
George Munsey (28 from 16), Richie Berrington (23 from 20) and Matthew Cross (27 from 21) all gave good accounts of themselves with the bat.
However, a team effort from Australia with the ball stifled the rest of the Scottish lineup, with Sean Abbott taking three wickets and Xavier Bartlett and Adam Zampa each picking up a brace.
In reply, Australia — who were $1.05 favourites to win at cricket bookmakers — had a shaky first over.
Jake Fraser-McGurk was removed after three balls for a duck, with the score sitting at 1/5 after the seven balls.
That was the only time it seemed like Scotland were in the match. From the eighth ball onwards, it was all Australia.
Head got stuck in, accruing three fours from the second over before adding two more, plus two maximums, in the third.
Mitchell Marsh joined in the action in the fourth over, with the pair striking another four boundaries between them to take the score to 1/57 after four overs.
The next two overs consisted entirely of boundaries, with Marsh striking 30 runs off the fifth over before Head pummelled 26 runs off the sixth.
In doing so, Head equalled the Australian record of 17 balls to reach a half-century.
The duo both fell in the next over, but the damage was done, with the visitors cruising to a seven-wicket win with 62 balls in hand.
“Nice way to get underway, we’ve loved our time here so far and I was a bit nervous coming in,” said man-of-the-match Head.
“Nice to get some runs with the captain today.
“After losing Jake, not sure what the wicket was going to do, but nice to get into my groove quickly.
“Once I get away, I guess that’s my role, maximising the powerplay.”
Captain Marsh was also pleased with Australia’s execution.
“Always nice to start a tour with a win, especially in a three-match series,” he shared in his post-match interview.
“I thought the bowlers were all really good, it was about being really clear on what they wanted to do, and we judge the execution.”
Bookmaker Bet365 has lengthened Scotland’s odds of a bounce-back victory in the second T20I, to be played on Friday in Edinburgh.
The hosts are now at $13 to win, while Australia have shortened to just $1.04.
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