Sophia Dunkley was dropped before the World Cup after failing to reach 30 in six innings against India and New Zealand.

T20 World Cup, Group 2, Headingley

England 200-5 (20 overs): Dunkley 57 (37), Capsey 40 (25); Gordon 2-30

Scotland 162-7 (20 overs): S Bryce 34 (24)

England won by 38 runs.

England's batting sparkled again as the hosts closed on a place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a 38-run victory over Scotland at Headingley. Sophia Dunkley ensured injured captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was not missed by capitalising on three dropped catches in making 57 on her return to the side. Alice Capsey stroked 40 and Heather Knight 25 but most impressive was a barnstorming unbroken partnership of 61 from just 21 balls from Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson.

Together they took England from 141-5 after 17 overs to 200-5 after 20 - with Kemp hitting an unbeaten 39 from 16 balls and Gibson an 11-ball 30 not out. After an edgy chase over Ireland in their second match, this was more reminiscent of England's performance on the opening night of the tournament when they piled up 219-1 against Sri Lanka.

The Kemp-Gibson pyrotechnics pushed the target beyond Scotland and, despite an admirable effort, they finished on 162-7 - their highest score batting second in T20 internationals. A win in either of England's last two matches, against West Indies on Wednesday or New Zealand next Saturday, will likely be enough to secure a top-two finish. Scotland, who have a win and two defeats, play New Zealand on Tuesday.

If there were ever any worries England's World Cup would falter after losing Sciver-Brunt to a calf injury, there was not any evidence of struggles here. Charlie Dean stood in ably as skipper and the batting fired. Tougher tests will come, first with the Windies and the White Ferns before any semi-final, but England showed they can cope without their captain for now.

Kemp and Gibson have added another dimension to England's batting. Previously England have struggled to hit boundaries when the field was set back but the pair struck nine fours and two sixes despite coming together in the 17th over. The best was Gibson's clean hit over the umpire's head and into the second tier in a 19th over that cost 21.

Without the late spurt, Scotland would have pushed England close. Instead, with wickets falling at regular intervals, they were always at least 20 behind where they wanted to be. With four wickets left, they needed 48 from the last over and were well beaten.

Dunkley was England's opener at the start of this summer but lost her place when a run of poor form – a high score of 26 in six internationals – was combined with Capsey coming of age at international level in the pre-tournament series against India and New Zealand. Rather than rejig the order, Dunkley was selected in Sciver-Brunt's position of number three but was in to face the second ball after Amy Jones hit Kirstie Gordon to cover.

Having looked scratchy early on, Dunkley found her groove by slogging Kathryn Bryce over mid-wicket for six in the third over. Afterwards she flogged eight fours that were rarely pretty but effective.

Scotland will rue their missed opportunities - Dunkley was on four when put down by Priyanaz Chatterji. That was a tough one-handed chance at short fine leg and the drop by Katherine Fraser at deep mid-wicket when Dunkley had 43 was also far from easy. Megan McColl had no excuse, however, when she shelled Dunkley's stray cut when the England batter had 45. Those misses meant England's rebuild was not too tricky and a platform for Kemp and Gibson was laid.

This video cannot be played 'Wow!' - Gibson hits a 'big' six

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