England hammer Oman to get T20 World Cup campaign back on track

Jos Buttler's side were ruthless with the ball, faced with the need to win handsomely against Oman and Namibia in order to overcome Scotland's net run rate, should they lose against Australia on Sunday

Antigua: Oman 47, England 50-2 - England win by eight wickets

England got their T20 World Cup campaign back on track by trouncing Oman, winning by eight wickets in Antigua in a game that lasted just 16.3 overs.

They chased down their 48-run target in just 3.1 overs, the fastest victory by balls faced in Men's T20 World Cup history, trouncing the previous record of 90 balls remaining.

After winning the toss at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and electing to field, Jos Buttler's side were ruthless, faced with the need to win handsomely against Oman and Namibia in order to overcome Scotland's net run rate, should they lose against Australia on Sunday.

The rout began in the second over, with Pratik Athavale caught by Phil Salt at short cover off the bowling of Jofra Archer.

Archer then had Ilyas Sulehri, the Oman captain, caught at backward point, unable to get on top of a cut shot as England, who have struggled for wickets in recent powerplays, ran through the Oman top order.

Mark Wood then forced a leading edge from the experienced Zeeshan Maqsood for a caught-and-bowled, before Kashyap Prajapati clothed a pull shot to Liam Livingstone at square leg.

^{Jofra Archer took three wickets for England (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

Khalid Kail was the first of Adil Rashid's four wickets, stumped as he dragged his foot after missing a sweep shot. Jos Buttler waited a brief second before removing the bails, a decision upheld on review.

Ayaan Khan then chopped on to give Wood his 50th T20I wicket, while Fayyaz Butt and Kaleemullah were both undone by delicious Rashid googlies as England rolled their opposition for just 47, the second-lowest score of the tournament after Uganda's 39 against West Indies.

"We had a point to prove," said Wood at the innings interval. "We trained really well and showed character and resilience. It was a mixture of trying to push them back, then having the awareness to go full. Adil is a real asset for us. He's a magician, great to have in our side."

Phil Salt then hit the first two balls of the reply for six before being bowled by Bilal Khan as England continued to chase their net run rate. They lost Will Jacks soon afterwards, clothing an attempt to clear the off-side.

Buttler (24*) and Jonny Bairstow traded boundaries as England closed in, with Bairstow pulling away the winning boundary, with England's net run rate leaping to 3.08, ahead of Scotland's (2.16), albeit two points worse off, with both sides still having a game each to play.

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