England will be aiming for a statement win over Australia after the T20 World Cup result against Scotland

Matthew Mott has promised England will make a “statement” in Saturday’s T20 World Cup match against Australia after a lackluster start to their trophy defense.

Heavy rain in Barbados meant just ten overs were possible in the champions’ opening Group B match against Scotland, with the points being shared on a frustrating evening.

Scotland had won the toss and posted 90 without loss either side of a long rain delay, leaving England with a DLS adjusted target of 109 from 10 overs, only for bad weather to return during the change of innings.

Scotland captain Richie Berrington admitted he was frustrated at having missed a chance for a major upset, while Mott insisted England would have been the big favorites in the chase.

The toss could be argued either way, but with the points shared it is now up to England to kick-start their campaign against the Aussies at Kensington Oval this weekend.

“Yes, we definitely want to do that,” said England white-ball head coach Mott, when asked if his side will be looking for a statement win on Saturday in the meeting between the two previous champions.

“We really wanted to make a statement there. We match up very well against Australia and whatever the outcome of this match would be, it would be a big game the next match and we are really looking forward to it.”

Despite England chasing early wickets with the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, Scottish openers George Munsey and Michael Jones got the associated nation off to a flying start, with 51 in 6.2 overs before a long rain break and then back to business once play restarted, reducing the innings to 10 overs.

This was the first ever men’s T20 between the countries, but Scotland had secured a famous victory in their most recent meeting, a one-day international in Edinburgh six years ago, and had their sights set on another shock.

“I think we definitely gave ourselves a chance there,” Berrington said. “It would have been interesting to see how the weather would have affected the pitch as it looked a bit uneven as we expected during the day.

“I think if we bowled and fielded well we would definitely have a chance there.”

Typically, however, the chasing team is favored in rain-affected matches, and Mott insists that the combination of the powerful England line-up and the fact that Scotland had had to bowl in wet, greasy conditions marked his side as favourites.

“I think we had every advantage in that,” Mott said.

“I think it would be a wet ball, 10 wickets in hand, just 10 overs. I think if we went out again it would have been difficult for Scotland given the start they had.

“But I thought it was within our reach to achieve that. I think the way we want to play, in a 20-over match we seem to be at that point. So yeah, I think we had a lot of confidence in it.