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In the first T20I in Edinburgh, after the bowlers had stemmed Scotland’s bright start, Travis Head produced a brutal hitting display, scoring the most individual runs in a powerplay and hitting a record-tying 17-ball fifty. Australia then stormed to a seven-wicket victory with more than 10 overs remaining.
Leading by George Munsey, the home team started the innings with a good intention and, while they lost wickets in their attempt to maintain a high early run rate, were in a promising position. But, they lost 6 for 44 from 101 for 3 in the twelfth over, with to two wickets from Adam Zampa and some good pace adjustments from Australia’s quicks on a pitch that was slightly two-paced.
After Jake Fraser-McGurk had been out for a duck on his T20I debut, Head and Mitchell Marsh produced an incredible performance of powerplay hitting to put any thoughts that 154 may be remotely competitive to rest. Australia completed with the second-highest powerplay total in Twenty20 Internationals (113), with 14 deliveries in a row going for boundaries. Head had 73 runs, surpassing Paul Stirling’s 67 runs against the West Indies in 2020.
This year, Fraser-McGurk has been talked about so much that it was easy to forget he was playing in his first Twenty20 international match. However, he was unable to make an impact in his opening inning because to the rather surprising sight of Brandon McMullen’s medium pace with the new ball. He attempted to hit his third delivery, but erred and fell into midwicket, where Charlie Cassell made an excellent catch.
However, all notions of a sway towards Australia disappeared in a flurry of restrictions. Head, the MLC’s July player of the tournament, took three fours in Brad Wheal’s opening over. Attempting to give McMullen another over, which would have cost 20, did not work out. However, Jack Jarvis was spared the true slaughter in the fifth when Marsh took him for thirty with three sixes. Scotland’s bowlers failed to respond, as several of their deliveries found their way into the trees.
During the run of 14 straight deliveries that were either a four or a six, Head reached a 17-ball fifty off the first ball of the sixth over, matching Marcus Stoinis’ record as the fastest for Australia in Twenty20 Internationals.