Banton guides England to 5-wicket victory over Scotland at T20 World Cup, Ireland thumps Oman

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Tom Banton hit an unbeaten 63 off 41 balls and Jofra Archer returned to form in England’s five-wicket win over Scotland at the T20 Cricket World Cup on Saturday.

England, desperately needing the victory following an unconvincing four-run win over Nepal and a loss to the West Indies, made 155-5 in 18.2 overs after the Scots were bowled out for just 152 in Kolkata.

Scotland wasted an ideal platform after getting to 90-3 in 10 overs, with the batters falling to mistimed sweep shots against the spinners.

England's top-order batters Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and captain Harry Brook fell for single digits, but Banton put on 66 with Jacob Bethell (32) and 46 with Sam Curran (28) to lift the team to second in Group C behind West Indies. It next plays Italy on Monday.

Salt drove loosely at Brandon McMullen and was caught at point before the pace bowler then took a smart catch over his shoulder at mid-off to dismiss Buttler as England slipped to 13-2.

Banton and Bethell then dug in well before Scotland hit back with two wickets in eight balls. Bethell slog swept and was caught at fine leg while Brook top-edged a scoop to fine leg.

Earlier, England hit back in the closing overs after Scotland had looked poised to set a challenging target when 113-3 midway through the 13th over.

The dismissal of captain Richie Berrington, who made 49, and Tom Bruce (24) in the space of four balls left Scotland struggling to accelerate late on.

Berrington and Bruce put on 71 in 41 deliveries before spinners Adil Rashid (3-36) and Liam Dawson (2-34) grabbed five wickets in four overs.

Fast bowler Archer, who was expensive against Nepal and West Indies, dismissed George Munsey and McMullen in a double-wicket second over.

In Colombo, Lorcan Tucker’s blistering unbeaten 94 off 51 balls earned Ireland its first win in the tournament as it crushed Oman by 96 runs in Group B.

Tucker, leading the side after Paul Stirling was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury, powered Ireland to this tournament’s highest score of 235-5.

Gareth Delany hit 56 and George Dockrell smashed three sixes off the final three balls in a blazing 35 not out off nine deliveries.

In reply, Oman was bowled out for 139 in 18 overs after losing the last eight wickets for just 42 runs.

Opener Aamir Kaleem (50) and Hammad Mirza (46) put on 73 for the third wicket, but once Kaleem holed out after scoring his 28-ball half century, the Oman innings folded quickly. Fast bowler Josh Little grabbed 3-16 while Matthew Humphreys (2-27) and Barry McCarthy (2-32) shared four wickets.

In Ahmedabad, South Africa won the toss and elected to field against New Zealand in a game between the two unbeaten teams in Group D.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Scotland's Mark Watt is bowled out by England's Adil Rashid during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Jofra Archer, left, celebrates with teammate Tom Banton the wicket of Scotland's George Munsey during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Tom Banton plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Ireland's Josh Little celebrates the wicket of Oman's Mohammad Nadeem during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Ireland and Oman in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Ireland's Gareth Delany, left, Lorcan Tucker, right, encourage each other as they bat during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Ireland and Oman in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Ireland's Lorcan Tucker plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Ireland and Oman in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen turned in a powerful final run to win the Olympic giant slalom Saturday and earn South America’s first medal at a Winter Games.

The race isn’t official yet, though, with dozens of lower-tier racers still to take the course. But he's the leader after the top 30 fastest from the first run.

With snow falling and fog settling in, the 25-year-old Pinheiro Braathen remained cool and relaxed as he navigated his way through the technical Stelvio course. After seeing his place — No. 1 — he fell to the snow before starting to scream.

He finished in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds. He beat Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, the defending Olympic champion, by 0.58 seconds. Odermatt's teammate, Loic Meillard, earned bronze position.

Pinheiro Braathen is the fun-loving, samba-dancing skier who’s ready to get this party started. On the back of his helmet, he has in big letters “Vamos Dancar” — “Let’s Dance.”

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing and AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen checks his time at the finish area after the first run of an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)