Record shattered as Australia defeated Scotland in the first T20I match by 7 wickets in Edinburgh on Wednesday, September 4. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh played out explosive innings to help Australia chase down a 155-run target in just 56 balls and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Scotland.
Travis Head recorded a 17-ball fifty, the joint-fastest for Australia T20I history, and Marsh smashed 39 runs off just 12 balls as Australia registered a new world record for the highest run rate in a completed T20I innings. Australia also broke the record for the highest T20I powerplay total by a full-time member by scoring 113 runs in six overs.
The world's No.1 T20I batter Travis Head justified his rankings by smashing 80 runs off just 25 balls with the help of 12 fours and five sixes. Head equalled Marcus Stoinis' record for the fastest T20I fifty for Australia. Head also scorched up 73 runs off 22 balls in the first six overs to set a new highest individual score in the powerplay in the shortest form of cricket.
Earlier in the game, Australia elected to bowl first after winning the toss at Grange Cricket Club Ground. The rising Australian star Jake Fraser-McGurk received his first T20I cap while Charlie Cassell and Jasper Davidson made T20I debuts for Scotland.
Scotland managed to impress in the first ten overs by scoring 84 runs with opener George Munsey smashing 28 runs off just 16 balls. Scotland seemed to have destined for a big total but Australia made a late comeback with Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott.
Abbott picked three wickets for 39 while Zampa and Xavier Bartlett clinched two each for Australia. Munsey top-scored with 28 runs for the hosts while the wicketkeeper batter Matthew Cross scored 27 runs.
Chasing a manageable total, Australia lost debutant Fraser-McGurk in the first over as the youngster registered an unfortunate three-ball duck. But Head and Marsh quickly put Australia in the driving seat with a sensational 113-run stand for the second wicket.
Australia Playing XI: Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith.
Scotland Playing XI: George Munsey, Ollie Hairs, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Jack Jarvis, Charlie Cassell, Jasper Davidson, Brad Wheal.
