England face Scotland in Group C at the T20 World Cup and both teams come into Saturday's game at Eden Gardens with one win and one defeat.
Harry Brook’s England were given a massive scare by Nepal in their opening match before a nerveless final over from Sam Curran closed out a four-run victory.
But they were well beaten by the West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday and cannot afford another slip-up against Scotland, who thumped Italy by 73 runs in their second game of the tournament.
Selections
Phil Salt to be England top batter @ 3/1
Michael Leask to be Scotland top bowler @ 13/4
George Munsey to score over 18.5 runs @ 17/20
Salt should relish return to Kolkata
There are some confusing formlines in Group C as Scotland hammered Italy, who went on to thrash Nepal by ten wickets on Thursday.
England made extremely hard work of a four-run victory over Nepal in their opening fixture and they were also disappointing against the West Indies last time out.
Phil Salt gave England a fast start in pursuit of 197 in Mumbai, slamming 30 off 14 balls, but their batting folded tamely after his dismissal.
Salt could play a starring role against Scotland at Eden Gardens, where he enjoyed a terrific 2024 IPL campaign for Kolkata Knight Riders.
He has made five half-centuries in just eight innings at the iconic venue, scoring at a strike-rate of 185 runs per 100 balls.
Salt top-scored with a measured 46 in last month’s first T20 international in Sri Lanka and signed off the 2025 home summer with a blistering 141 not out off 60 balls against South Africa at Old Trafford.
The opener followed up with knocks of 89 against Ireland and 85 against New Zealand and he can enhance his superb Eden Gardens record this weekend.
Scotland spinner could trouble favourites
Scotland have played their first two group fixtures in Kolkata, where veteran spinner Michael Leask is clearly enjoying conditions.
He dismissed in-form West Indies captain Shai Hope in Scotland’s opening match before ripping through Italy’s batting line-up to finish with 4-17 from four overs.
Leask has taken at least one wicket in each of his last eight T20 bowling innings and he starred in Scotland’s win over the Windies at the 2022 T20 World Cup, claiming 2-15 from four overs in Hobart.
Expect more Munsey mayhem in the Powerplay
Opener George Munsey was named player of the match in that 2022 victory against the West Indies after top-scoring with an unbeaten 66.
He has made an impressive start to this tournament, scoring 19 against the Windies and 84 from 54 balls against Italy on Monday.
Munsey struck 55 off 51 deliveries in an ODI against England in 2018 and was unbeaten on 41 off 31 before rain ruined their clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.
He can be destructive against the new ball in T20s and has exceeded a runs line of 18.5 in 11 of his last 14 innings – including scores of 35, 28, 19 and 25 against Australia in 2024.
