Australia beat the rain to blitz Scots

Mitchell Starc’s four-wicket haul against Scotland has propelled Australia into second spot in the World Cup’s Pool A behind fellow tournament host, New Zealand.

In a rain-interrupted clash at Blundstone Arena in Hobart against the winless Scots, Australia lost three wickets before taking just 15.2 overs to reach the meagre target of 131 set for them to lock in a quarter-final berth against either Pakistan or Ireland, who duel on Sunday.

After Michael Clarke won the toss and, with forecast rain top of mind, sent Scotland in to bat Starc claimed 4-14 from 4.4 overs to shoot to the top of the World Cup’s leading wicket-takers’ list with 16 ahead of Scotland's Josh Davey, New Zealand paceman Trent Boult and India quick Mohammed Shami (all on 15).

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Starc had Coetzer hopping early // Getty Images

Pat Cummins, included in the XI in favour of Xavier Doherty, was taken out of the attack early in the match after Scottish opener Calum MacLeod struck four boundaries from the young paceman’s opening two overs. However, Cummins bounced back to finish with figures of 3-42 from his seven overs as he looks to stay ahead of Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s pace-bowling pecking order.

In need of more time in the middle after completing just two innings as a batsman during the tournament (12 v New Zealand and 68 v Sri Lanka), Clarke opened the batting with Aaron Finch.

Finch was flashy early before being caught at cover for 20 off 10 balls following scores of 135, 14, four and 24 in the tournament.

Shane Watson, who earlier took 1-18 from his three overs, came in at No.3 again having been dropped for the match against Afghanistan and then recalled and sent in at number six in the win over Sri Lanka.

The allrounder’s move back up the order will lead to likely speculation as to where he will bat in the quarter-final, which he now appears almost certain to be named for after his crucial half-century against Sri Lanka and today’s effort.

He made 24 before a miscued sweep shot saw him caught out by 'keeper Matt Cross.

Clarke struck seven fours and two sixes and looked solid in compiling a run-a-ball 47 before being caught on the boundary by Michael Leask two balls after Watson’s dismissal.

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Clarke compiled 47 as opener // Getty Images

Leask’s diving catch to send Clarke on his way finally gave a passionate contingent of Scottish fans on the hill at Blundstone Arena something to cheer about.

Clarke’s only real moment of genuine discomfort during his knock came when he was struck in the groin region by a Davey delivery when on 26.

After Watson and Clarke’s dismissals to Davey and Iain Wardlaw respectively, rain again halted play for around 90 minutes before David Warner (21no off six balls) and James Faulkner (16no off six balls) came to the crease and went on a short, but entertaining, rampage that finished the game.

Warner and Faulkner made 41 runs off 12 balls after the restart.

Earlier, grey skies hovered above a lit-up Blundstone Arena throughout the first innings with rain eventually forcing players from the field after 25 overs with Scotland on 8-130.

Australia finished the Scots off quickly after the interruption with Starc clean-bowling tailender Davey and then Wardlaw – who became Scotland’s fifth duck in the innings – with no addition to the total.

Davey’s wicket took Starc to 15 scalps for the World Cup, before he knocked Wardlaw’s castle over and took the lead outright.

Starc now also has the best average of anyone in the tournament with his 16 wickets coming at 8.50 runs, his combined use of searing yorkers and balls on a length that have been prevalent during his recent purple patch again on display.

Opener Kyle Coetzer (0) was Starc’s first victim when he edged through to Steve Smith in the third over.

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Smith catches Coetzer early // Getty Images

Macleod (22 off 19) was the next to go after his bright start against Cummins, the Scot playing an ambitious cut shot and holing out to Warner.

Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen fell for a duck when he skied Watson, who replaced the initially-expensive Cummins and was used at first change by Clarke ahead of Mitchell Johnson (1-16 from four overs).

Johnson took his only wicket in the 10th over when Freddie Coleman edged through to a diving Clarke at second slip and Glenn Maxwell (1-24 from four overs) struck in the next over when his opening half-volley was hit straight to Warner by Richie Berrington (one).

When Cummins was brought back on following a drinks break, his third over for the innings wasn’t without drama.

He again slipped and fell when trying to land on the crease in his delivery stride, as he had done so during the loss against New Zealand.

Recovering quickly, he then claimed the wickets of the resilient Matt Machan (40 off 35 balls) and Cross for nine with two of his next three legal deliveries (he also bowled a wide in the over).

His third wicket came in the 20th over of the innings when he had Rob Taylor poking at a delivery with little footwork, the resulting edge taken easily by Brad Haddin behind the stumps.

Faulkner (0-15) got through three overs in his third match back from injury.

Scotland never looked likely to post a competitive total and despite Davey making 26 down the order and Leask’s breezy 23 from 11 deliveries, they were dismissed for their lowest total in this World Cup and will leave with zero points from their tournament.

Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke (c), Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins.

Scotland: Calum Macleod, Kyle Coetzer, Matt Machan, Preston Mommsen (c), Freddie Coleman, Richie Berrington, Matt Cross (wk), Josh Davey, Rob Taylor, Michael Leask, Iain Wardlaw.