SCO VS AUS 2ND T20I

The Aussies are generous enough to give a few selfies and autographs to the fans, patiently answering all their requests. The third game comes around quickly, on Saturday, 7th September, 2024, with the first ball slated to be bowled at 1 pm GMT, weather permitting. We take your leave for now, but do check the scorecards for other matches, like the ongoing third England-Sri Lanka Test, where England are 221/3 in just 44.1 overs with skipper Pope getting to a century. There are other matches as well, like the Caribbean Premier League, but that will also depend on the time zone that you live in. Nothing of that sort for us. We are here for you, in every time zone, ready to bring you all the entertainment and fun from across the globe. Do join us and share the fun. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Right then. That ends another one-sided encounter, as per the scorecard but it actually was the difference of one batter in the end. However, Australia will be more than happy with their 70-run win and see the changes they can make for Saturday, given that it is a quick turnaround. They have only Cooper Connolly in the squad left to play, so they can only make two changes - with Meredith putting his feet up for this game. Scotland have a lot of options to make changes but too many would spoil the broth. They need to trust this unit and just figure out a way to get Sharif into the playing XI. One batter needs to bat for as long as possible and the seamers coming after the new ball need to be clinical.

Victorious Australian skipper, MITCHELL MARSH, says that it was a good game of cricket and feels that this was a good all-round performance from the team. Tells that they have got a young group here and it is good to see guys making the most of the opportunities. Shares that the talk was about being flexible before this series and it was Inglis' turn to shine in this game. Further says that they might make a couple of changes for the third T20I but the priority is to complete a clean sweep.

Scotland's captain, RICHIE BERRINGTON, says that there were a few improvements and feels that Scotland were much better with the ball in this game. Lauds Josh Inglis for the way he batted. Reckons that Inglis kept finding boundaries with regularity, something his own team's batters could not do during their effort. States that he is disappointed with the result but is happy with the character to shown by his boys. Ends by saying that they need to build on this and get better with every game.

AUSTRALIA'S JOSH INGLIS HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his stunning 103 (49), which had 14 hits to the fence, to go with a steepler with the gloves to dismiss Michael Jones. When asked how it feels to hold the record of the fastest ton by an Australian batter, he says that it feels pretty special. He says that there was a bit happening early on and the talk between him and Cameron Green was to build a partnership. Shares that as the new ball wore off, it got easy to bat. Feels that this is a good opportunity for him to cement his place in the squad.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Scotland bowled better than how they did on Wednesday. They will take heart from the fact that had it not been for Inglis, there is not too much difference between the two sides. But the scorecard will always say that it was another drubbing. Probably, they need to figure out a way to get Safyaan Sharif into the playing XI. He will certainly be a handful. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Earlier in the day, Josh Inglis crossed 50 for the second time in T20Is and for the second time, crossed the 100-mark as well. The 43-ball ton is also the fastest ever by an Aussie batter in this format, beating Aaron Finch's 47-ball ton against England in Southampton, way back in 2013. As the match summary turns out, he scored just 9 less than the scores of all the Scottish batters combined together. That shows how he understood the pitch and quickly guaged the conditions. He got decent support from Green and Stoinis, but actually, dictated the game to the opposition. Should not be a difficult choice for the Player Of The Match award, aye?

Marcus Stoinis was caught sledging a couple of batters but it was his day with the ball, as he finished with 4 scalps. But if truth be told, no Aussie bowler actually struggled on the day. They enjoyed tucking the batters for room, cramping them up and also moving the ball sideways. Marsh will be happy with the way his bowlers used the pitch.

At the toss, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh mentioned that the conditions made it feel like they were playing way away from home, but in reality, forget the conditions, the pitch was tailor-made for the Aussies. With tall and lanky seamers in the side, Bartlett, Hardie, Stoinis, Abbott and even Green enjoyed the bounce on the pitch. They used their height and broad shoulders to use the heavy ball which became too much for the Scot batters to handle.

George Munsey departed immediately after being given a life while Brandon McMullen was the lone shining star amidst a sea of gloom for the home side with a fine 59. There was only that one decent partnership of 36, for the 5th wicket, between McMullen and Michael Leask and it was at that time when we felt that Scotland were pushing on. But McMullen's wicket led to a massive collapse as the home side lost their last 6 wickets for just 20 runs, in the span of 26 balls.

When the required rate touches 10 before the start of a run chase, you need to get a good start and then consolidate that start. Scotland did a part of those two things correctly - got a bit of a start, with a 17-run opening over. But if fans felt that would be the start of something big, sadly, it was not. That 17-run opening over was one of just 4 double-digit overs for Scotland, as opposed to 12 double-digit overs for Australia in their innings. After that brisk opening over, no one ever got going really, with only two batters reaching double digits.

A pretty easy deal in the end for Australia. The series is in the bag, with a match still to go, which allows them to try out some other faces in the squad. Thanks to the big score on the board, the Aussie bowlers did not have to break much sweat and got the job done pretty clinically.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Marcus Stoinis wraps things up! Australia put the series to bed with a clinical win. Stoinis spots the batter back away towards the leg side slightly and he follows him. Bowls it full and around the pads. Chris Greaves tries to swat it behind square on the leg side. He could not have picked out the fielder any better. Helps it away off his pads and it goes straight into the hands of Aaron Hardie at fine leg who takes the simplest of catches near his left knee. Marcus Stoinis ends with four wickets to his name. His figures read 3.4-0-23-4. Australia win by 70 runs and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series!

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Marcus Stoinis wraps things up! Australia put the series to bed with a clinical win. Stoinis spots the batter back away towards the leg side slightly and he follows him. Bowls it full and around the pads. Chris Greaves tries to swat it behind square on the leg side. He could not have picked out the fielder any better. Helps it away off his pads and it goes straight into the hands of Aaron Hardie at fine leg who takes the simplest of catches near his left knee. Marcus Stoinis ends with four wickets to his name. His figures read 3.4-0-23-4. Australia win by 70 runs and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series!

Serves it on a good length, on off does Stoinis, Brad Currie guides it off the back foot through covers for a single.

Brad Currie is the only batter left.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Marcus Stoinis has his third as Australia inch closer to clinching the win and the series. A touch fuller by Stoinis, angling in, on middle and leg, Brad Wheal backs away and goes for a swipe across the line. Gets a leading edge that goes straight up in the air towards cover. Xavier Bartlett calls for it and settles under it after running a few steps in front to complete the catch near his chest.