Tom Banton’s unbeaten 63 led England to a five-wicket T20 World Cup victory over Scotland in Kolkata on Saturday that kept Harry Brook’s side on course for the Super Eights.
Victory in their final Group C match against Italy on Monday at the same Eden Gardens stadium will see England safely into the next round.
After bowling Scotland out for 152, England racked up 155-5 in 18.2 overs, with Jacob Bethell scoring 32, Sam Curran 28, and Will Jacks (16 off 10 balls) hitting a six and a four to finish the job.
“I think our full focus was on tonight and then obviously on to Italy in two days’ time,” said Banton, who hit form after scoring just four runs in England’s first two matches.
“It’s T20 cricket. It’s a high-risk game. And you’ve got to keep backing yourself. At times it goes against you. And it’s hard.
“You’ve got to keep coming back, keep trying hard, keep practising. Luckily, today’s my day.”
England wobbled at the start of their chase as the new white ball swung under the floodlights with the sun going down.
Phil Salt fell third ball to Brandon McMullen for just two, and when Jos Buttler picked out McMullen off Brad Currie, they were 13-2.
Scotland bowled tightly until Bethell broke the shackles by hitting McMullen for a six and two fours in the fifth over.
Spinner Mark Watt also came in for some punishment, conceding 22 off his first over as Banton took him for three huge sixes.
A 66-run partnership ended when the left-handed Bethell on 32 helped a leg-side delivery from Oliver Davidson into the grateful hands of Brad Wheal at short fine leg.
Captain Brook did not last long, scooping Michael Leask over his shoulder to Wheal to make it 86-4 but England were always in control and got home with 10 balls to spare.
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Earlier, England’s bowlers found their mojo and vindicated Brook’s decision to field on winning the toss.
After being smacked to all parts of Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium in conceding 196 to the West Indies on Wednesday, England’s attack exerted much more control at Eden Gardens.
Captain Richie Berrington top-scored for Scotland with 49 off 32 balls with five fours and two sixes.
He and Tom Bruce put on 71 for the fourth wicket, but it was their only notable partnership.
Spinner Liam Dawson ended it in the 13th over when Bruce was caught for 24, Curran providing the safe hands at deep square leg.
Scotland collapsed when Adil Rashid trapped Berrington lbw in the next over, losing their last seven wickets for 39 runs from 113-3.
Jofra Archer had been expensive in the two previous outings but made the early breakthroughs before finishing with a brilliant 2-24 off his four overs.
In his second over, he hurried George Munsey into top-edging to Banton and two balls later had McMullen caught by Salt in the deep.
Michael Jones (33) holed out to Bethell off Curran and Scotland were 42-3 at the end of the six-over power play and never threatened a competitive total.
Rashid was the best of the England bowlers with 3-36 from his four overs, while Dawson took 2-34.
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