England is still in position for a spot in the Super 8 stage of the 2017 T20 World Cup after defeating Oman. England sorely needed two points to stay afloat after scoring just one point in their first two games. They lost to Australia, and their game against Scotland was canceled due to weather. However, the reigning champions rebounded with an 8-wicket triumph over Oman at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. England crushed Oman, knocking them out for 47 and chasing it down in 3.1 overs.
The England opening offered Phil Salt ignited the chase, hitting a six on the first two balls of the innings. Salt made history by hitting sixes on the first two balls of a team’s innings in international cricket.
The victory was exactly what England needed to reverse their NRR equation in Group B. England presently has a higher net run rate (+3.081) than second-placed Scotland (+2.164) in Group B and would qualify for the Super 8 if they beat Namibia and Scotland fails to score a point against Australia.
After deciding to bowl first, England’s speed attack annihilated Oman, with Mark Wood and Jofra Archer each claiming three wickets, limiting their opponents to 47 runs in 13.2 overs.
Archer took two wickets in the Powerplay and finished with 3/12 from 3.2 overs. Wood took his 50th T20 International wicket and finished with 3/12. Adil Rashid then proved too strong for the Oman tail, taking 4/11 in his four overs.
England quickly reached their target of 48, with Phil Salt blasting the first two balls for six before being out on the third. Following Will Jacks’ dismissal for 5, Jos Buttler (24 not out of 8) and Jonny Bairstow (8 not out of 2) soon completed the job.
Oman’s fourth defeat in the group was their most disappointing showing of the campaign, but they had shown much of promise in earlier encounters.
