Mitchell Starc took four wickets for just 14 runs before Australia defied the rain to make quick work of Scotland’s score of 130 in 25.4 overs to claim a seven-wicket win in their final Pool A match on Saturday. Player of the match Starc took the first and last wickets of the Scotland innings, starting with opener Kyle Coetzer in the third over for 0. Australia won with 133-3 in only 15.2 overs to finish second to fellow World Cup hosts New Zealand, while Scotland has lost 14 straight World Cup games.
Australia made a quick start to its chase with Aaron Finch — opening the batting with captain Michael Clarke in a reshuffled lineup — smashing 20 runs off 10 balls before lofting a drive off Rob Taylor to Freddie Coleman at cover. Shane Watson was caught behind off Josh Davey for 24. Clarke made 47 before falling to an athletic diving catch by Michael leask at the deep square-leg boundary to usher in the dinner break.
After rain delayed the resumption of play by more than an hour, new batsman David Warner wasted no time showing his intent by smashing a six and a four off his first two balls. Warner made an unbeaten 21 off just six balls with two fours and two sixes to close out the match with James Faulkner 16 not out.
BRIEF SCORES
Scotland: 130 (Machan 40; Starc 4/14, Cummins 3/42) lose to Australia: 133/3 (Clarke 47; Taylor 1/29) by 7 wickets.