ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Super Sixes, Match 7, Review: Windies seal WC berth, unlucky Scotland crash out

It was a tragic end to a defining game for the Scotland cricket. They did everything right on the day when they needed to win the fixture against the tournament favorites, Windies. However, in the last stage of the game, they ran out of luck. The rain gods intervened and Scots found themselves 5 runs short of the par DLS score. The destiny was indeed very harsh on them.

Scotland bowled exceptionally well to bundle out the strong Windies lineup for just 198. They had a poor start to the run chase, but in all likelihood, they would have crossed the target had they batted for the entire 50 overs. With the defeat, they are out of the tournament. On the other hand, it was a must win game for Windies too. And they have now sealed a spot in the ICC World Cup 2019.

Earlier in the game, it was the Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer who won the toss and opted to field first. The move to chase in a big game sounded like a legit proposition. And Safyaan Sharif ensured that it was a correct decision. The Scot veteran bowled exceptional spell with the new ball, including a maiden, to keep the Windies at bay.

This included a wicket off the very first ball of the match. He sent the dangerous Chris Gayle back in the hut for a golden duck. In his very next over, he accounted for the dismissal of Shai Hope, also on a duck. At 2/2, Windies were in dire straits as Marlon Samuels joined Evin Lewis at the crease. The two batsmen, who were the prime scorers of the previous game for their side, continued their good form on the day. They batted along beautifully to bail their side out of trouble.

A 121 run stand between the two players followed. En route the stand, both reached their individual fifties. The partnership was broken in the 31st over with Bradley Wheal trapping Lewis lbw on 66 (87). A couple of overs later, Samuels was dismissed on 51 (98) by Michael Leask.

What followed was an absolute cavalcade. Windies lost their last 8 wickets for just 75 runs as the wickets fell in clusters. No batsman could step up on the day. Carlos Brathwaite scored a handy 26-ball 24 to see Windies finish with 198 runs on the board. They were bundled out in 48.4 overs with Sharif and Wheal taking three wickets each.

And the run chase

In the run chase, Scotland had a horrific start too. Both in-form openers, Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross, were dismissed early for single digit scores. Michael Jones (14) and Calum MacLeod (21) toiled hard to add some runs on the board before Kemar Roach dismissed Jones. Richie Berrington came in next and steadied the ship for the Scots.

A good 42 run stand between Berrington and MacLeod came to an end with MacLeod being caught and bowled by Ashley Nurse. George Munsey joined Berrington at the crease and the scorecard kept ticking for the Scots. Soon, they cross the 100-run mark and looked in firm control of the game. The clouds started hovering and Nurse struck again.

Berrington was adjudged lbw by the umpires on 33. The replays showed that the ball would have definitely missed the leg stump. The decision proved to be fatal for the Scotland side as they suddenly found themselves behind with the DLS par score. The rain intervened with Scotland being on 125/5 in 35.2 overs. Munsey (32*) and Michael Leask (14*) headed back to the pavilion only to realise their team was 5 runs short on the DLS par score.

Brief Scores:

Windies 198/10 in 48.4 overs (Lewis 66, Samuels 51, Sharif 3/27, Wheal 3/34)

Scotland 125/5 in 35.2 overs (Berrington 33, Munsey 32*, Roach 2/20, Nurse 2/35)

Player of the Match: Safyaan Sharif

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