.webp "Scotland vs Australia")
As the Australia cricket team stormed to a thorough seven-wicket win against Scotland in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Opener Travis Head matched the record for the fastest half-century by an Australian men's batsman.
Head finished with 80 as Australia effectively chased down Scotland's small total of 154/9 in just 9.4 overs, replicating the effort of Marcus Stoinis against Sri Lanka at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 - and brought up his half-century in just 17 deliveries.
Head hit twelve fours and five sixes in his knock, meaning 78 of his eighty runs came in boundaries (the second-highest percentage of runs scored through boundaries in a 50-plus score in men's T20Is) as both he and Mitch Marsh (39 off 12 deliveries) dined out on a Scotland bowling attack at the Grange Cricket Club Ground.
Early in the first over of their run chase, Australia lost debutant Jake Fraser-McGurk; nonetheless, Head and Marsh attacked the hosts at every chance as they completed the Powerplay at 113/1 and with the victory total clearly visible.
Player of the match: Travis Head
Falling rather short of the 116 runs Romania managed against Serbia in Sofia in 2021, it was the second highest Powerplay total attained in men's T20I (where ball by ball statistics is available).
Australia performed clinically, with contributions from Sean Abbott (3/39), Xavier Bartlett (2/23), Adam Zampa (2/33), before eye-catching heroics with the bat from Head, Marsh and Josh Inglis (27*).
Australia now leads 1-0 in the three-match series; Head wants his squad to continue attacking when the series moves to Edinburgh on Friday.
Head stated, " Clearly they (Scotland) are keen as (for the contest) and so are we, we want to start on the right foot."
"We have a few young guys on our team, a bit of a fresher group off the rear of the T20 World Cup and I think everyone is keen to make a stance in international cricket."
Richie Berrington, the captain of Scotland, is looking for a comeback over the rest of the series since he was let down with the performance from his side.
Berrington remarked, "We're disappointed with how things ended up today, but it's a great experience especially for the younger guys who've come in."
"We have to keep our belief and return strong for the next one; every experience teaches us something."