T20 World Cup, Match 28: England thrash Oman by 8 wickets to keep Super 8 hopes alive - Cricket Winner

With Super 8 qualification on the line, England needed exactly this type of game. England recorded the fastest run chase in T20 World Cup history, completing the contest against Oman in just 3.1 overs in Antigua. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood had Oman reeling in the powerplay, while Adil Rashid spun his web to bowl Oman out for 47 runs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.

England didn’t give a chance to breathe

After winning the toss and opting to bowl with the run rate in their head, the holders made a quick start at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, dismissing Oman for 47 in 13.2 overs, their total in T20 World Cup history. The spinner Adil Rashid took 4 wickets for 11 runs in four overs, while Jofra Archer and Mark Wood took his 50th T20 international wicket and took three each for 12 runs.

Rashid’s third ball was a pinpoint googly that ripped through Fayyaz Butt’s gate after another attempt had thumped his pads, and after he repeated the trick with his final ball to bowl Kaleemullah for 5, Oman were 47 for 9 and sinking fast. Two balls later, Archer returned for his final over before Buttler considered bringing in a fifth bowler. Still, instead, he duly closed it out by inducing Shoaib Khan into lifting behind square, allowing Buttler to mop up the resistance and track back towards fine leg.

Magical Rashid rips Oman with his turn

With the game wide open, Rashid was the ideal weapon for exploiting Oman’s weak underbelly, and he did so with unwavering dominance. Four overs in a row, one wicket each, and only one boundary whacked through point by Shoaib Khan amid an impressive 20 dot-balls.

His first wicket came from his biggest ripper of the season, an agenda-setting leg break that nearly turned sideways past Khalid Kail’s unbalanced sweep, leaving Jos Buttler with so little to reach with his gloves that he missed his first attempt at stumping and only made it with the second due to Kail’s galling lack of game awareness.

England is still in the race for Super 8

According to the crunchy numbers, England could surpass Scotland’s NRR if they won in 5.2 overs or less. Phil Salt’s three-ball 12 gave an appearance that a 1.2-over finish was more likely. With the win, England moved up to third place in the five-team Group C table, trailing only leaders Australia and Scotland. Most importantly. England’s Net Run Rate surpassed Scotland’s after their commanding victory over Oman.

Mystery Spinner Adil Rashid: Player of the Match

Adil Rashid led an outstanding four-pronged attack with figures of 4 for 11.

“Thought we bowled exceptionally well. Felt good to see that first ball turn so much. Getting a wicket first ball sets the tone as well. I tried to adjust in the first over or so. It was spinning quite a bit so it was hard to keep it in the wickets, that meant I had to bowl outside leg a little bit. (On a 5-fer) Yeah, I was looking for it, if I got it great, if I didn’t it was fine. We’re going to take it one game at a time. We’ve got Namibia next.”