England, Australia maintain unbeaten run

England cruised to a dominant 38-run win over Scotland thanks to a strong all-round performance by the hosts at Headingley on Saturday, report agencies.

England maintained their winning momentum with a third straight win posting 200-5 and restricting Scotland to 162/7.

The win helped England maintain an iron grip at the top of Group B. Scotland, meanwhile, are placed fourth with two points in three matches.

With England and Scotland scoring 362 runs on the day, it was the highest combined total in a women's T20 World Cup game.

After Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce elected to field, Kirstie Gordon gave the team the perfect start as she snapped Amy Jones' wicket on the very first ball.

But England's power-packed batting line-up came to the fore after that. With regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt sitting out due to injury, Sophia Dunkley was given the opportunity and she grabbed it with both hands.

Dunkley led the England charge with seven fours and a six for a 37-ball 57, her first half-century in women's T20 World Cup. Though Scotland kept setting them back with wickets at regular intervals, every batter in England's middle-order chipped in with crucial runs.

A solid foundation in place, Freya Kemp (39) and Danielle Gibson (30) provided the late surge to power England to 200. They plundered 59 runs in the last three overs, with a combined tally of eight fours and three sixes.

Chasing a daunting total, Scotland came out with positive intent. Darcey Carter (29) and Katherine Fraser (23) took on the English pacers and knocked off 26 runs in the first two overs.

However, England kept hitting back with wickets. Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean gave the hosts the breakthrough, as she castled the dangerous Fraser, who had already hit two big sixes by then.

Seasoned star Sophie Ecclestone then landed decisive blows as she clean bowled Kathryn Bryce and Carter in successive overs. It was a spirited batting display from Scotland, who kept going for their runs even though the target looked out of reach.

Sarah Bryce's sparkled with a cameo of 34 (24 balls, 3x4, 1x6) and Pippa Sproul (27) and Gordon (23) made their rivals work right till the very end, but England's mountain of runs proved insurmountable.

For the hosts, left-arm spinner Ecclestone once again made her four overs count, claiming two wickets for just 23 runs in her four overs. Linsey Smith, Dean, Danielle Gibson and Freya Kemp chipped in with a wicket each.

Meanwhile, having brushed off an ill-timed ankle sprain, Australia's Ashleigh Gardner hopes her rapid half-century against the Netherlands can be a launching pad for the remainder of her T20 World Cup with the bat.