England coach Matthew Mott lamented a ‘sloppy’ performance after rain prevented their T20 World Cup defence from beginning with a potentially embarrassing defeat by Scotland.
On a grey, soggy day that was more Birmingham than Bridgetown, Jos Buttler’s team would have needed a daunting 109 in 10 overs after Scotland’s opening pair of George Munsey and Michael Jones had posted an unbroken 90.
But the showers that had interrupted the Scottish innings for more than two hours returned before England could start their reply, casting more doubt on the wisdom of staging a World Cup in the Caribbean’s rainy season and placing uncomfortable importance on Saturday’s game here against Australia.
Should England lose that, they could find themselves in a battle to qualify for the Super Eights, with the possibility that net run-rate will determine their fate. Yet to take a wicket or score a run, the world champions are already glancing nervously over their shoulder.
‘It was incredibly frustrating for both teams,’ said Mott. ‘We were a bit sloppy in the field and there was a bit of nerves at the start of the tournament, but there were good areas too, and I think that target would have been well within our grasp.’
England coach Matthew Mott lamented a ‘sloppy’ performance against Scotland on Tuesday
Even so, a farcical defeat would have been in-keeping with a day that began with rain leaking through the covers and creating a damp patch on a good length that groundstaff tried to remove with a leaf blower and a tatty sponge.
And when play did get underway, England looked worryingly off the pace. The fourth ball, from Mark Wood — whose pace saw him picked over Reece Topley — was hammered over mid-on by Munsey, while Jofra Archer’s first over gave Jones too much width.
There were misfields too, and when England thought they had finally broken through thanks to a Munsey top edge off Wood held by Buttler, replays revealed a no-ball.
Rain prevented their defence from starting with a potentially embarrassing defeat by Scotland
Jones, who on Friday had been batting at No 7 for Durham, then pulled Chris Jordan on to the roof of the Greenidge & Haynes stand, denting both a solar panel and English pride.
The heavens opened at 51 without loss after 6.2 overs, and by the time a 10-over match resumed, both Wood and Archer had completed their two-over allocation. Adil Rashid’s first over was hammered for 18, leaving Scotland to dream and England without a win in five T20 World Cup games against European opponents.
