NEW DELHI: England's
T20 World Cup
campaign got off to a frustrating start as rain forced their opening match against Scotland to be
abandoned
, with both teams sharing a point in Group B.
Scotland, opting to bat first at
Kensington Oval
, capitalized on the uncertain conditions. Openers
Michael Jones
and
George Munsey
raced to a 51-run partnership in just 6.2 overs before a lengthy rain delay.
Upon resumption, Scotland set England a revised target of 109 runs from 10 overs under the DLS method.
SEE ALSO: T20 World Cup Schedule
England, despite a strong start reaching 90 for no loss, were unable to complete the chase as another downpour rendered any further play impossible.
England coach
Matthew Mott
expressed disappointment at the outcome, believing his team held the advantage due to their powerful batting lineup and the challenging conditions a wet ball would have presented to Scotland's bowlers.
"I think we had all the advantage in that. I think it was going to be a wet ball, 10 wickets in hand, only 10 overs. I think if we got back out there, I thought it would have been tough on Scotland given the start that they had," Mott said in a press conference
"Those who've watched a lot of T20 cricket, I think that was certainly an achievable chase and we probably would have had all the things in our favour. It was frustrating not to get back out there, but that's the way it is," he added.
Mott acknowledged England's nervy performance in the field, citing a few fielding errors and a missed opportunity to dismiss Munsey early on.
"There are definitely areas we want to improve on, but there was a lot of good stuff in there as well," Mott continued.
Despite the anticlimactic start, Mott remained optimistic about England's chances in the tournament. He highlighted the team's batting depth and the potent bowling partnership of
Mark Wood
and
Jofra Archer
as key strengths.
"I think, you know, Mark Wood steaming in their first over, I think it's exciting. Him and Jofra together is something that we've not been able to have for a while," he remarked.
England now look forward to their highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Australia on Saturday, a rematch of the 2010 final at the same venue. Both England and Scotland currently hold one point each in Group B, with the former occupying second place due to a superior net run rate.
(Inputs from ANI)
English (US) ·