World Cup Qualifier 2023: West Indies Eliminated from World Cup Contention Following Loss to Scotland: Scotland registered a comfortable win over the West Indies in Super Six action on Saturday. The winners of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979 will not be taking part in the international competition for the first time.
Scotland produced a stellar performance with both bat and ball to beat West Indies by seven wickets in their opening Super Sixes encounter in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 in Harare.
This result ensured that West Indies could end up with only four points in the Super Six stage of the tournament. This means that the Maroon team might not finish in the top two in the qualifiers and won’t be able to travel with India to the Cricket World Cup later this year.
This is the first time that the West Indies will not be able to make it to the Senior Men's Cricket World Cup (ODI or T20I). Additionally, it was Scotland's first victory over the West Indies in an ODI.
In the match no. 23, Scotland won by seven wickets against West Indies, Harare Sports Club
Scotland’s emphatic victory was led by an exceptional performance from their bowlers and a 125-run partnership between Matthew Cross and Brendon McMullan.
Scotland suffer an early wicket as Christopher McBride dispatches Holder’s low full toss over midwicket on the very first ball. Any hope of further success was put to rest by Cross and McMullen, whose steady stand added 40 runs in the powerplay overs.
Despite continuing to bowl with restraint, the West Indies were unable to end the partnership between Cross and McMullen.
Their only chance came when McMullen hit Akeel Hossein straight to mid-wicket in the 12th over, but was dismissed by Kyle Mayers. The duo ensured that Scotland needed just 3.52 runs per over in the second half of the chase. McMullen also completed his half-century in the 25th over.
Scotland’s scoring rate accelerated soon thereafter, as both Cross and McMullen began to score at a rapid rate. Cross accomplished a remarkable feat of hitting three consecutive fours against Sinclair in the 27th over, reaching a total of 40 runs. Furthermore, he achieved his well-deserved half-century in the 29th over.
In overs 26–35, he added 56 runs close to the West Indian target. Cross (74*) had captain Richie Berrington as Scotland finally reached the West Indies target in the 44th over.
In the morning, Scotland’s new ball pairing of Chris Sole and Brandon McMullan stunned the West Indies line-up in the first powerplay. McMullen dismissed the first three players, Johnson Charles fell while trying to go over cover, Shamarh Brooks was out in the slips one after the other with heavy hands, and Brandon King took a simple catch off the medium pacer.
West Indies’ turmoil was further compounded when Sole dislodged the off-stump of Kyle Mayers in the seventh over to leave the team at 30/4.
West Indies vs Scotland Match Preview: Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, who were the top two run-getters for the West Indies in the qualifiers, were tasked with rebuilding.
The West Indies will be hopeful that the duo can replicate their outstanding performance from the Nepal match, during which they formed a crucial partnership of 216 runs for the fourth wicket, rescuing the innings. However, there was no saving act today as Hope was out caught by Safyaan Sharif.
Scotland took full control of the innings in the 21st over after Pooran fell to Mark Watt. The southpaw tried to swipe the slow left-arm orthodox spinner down the ground but managed to hit it towards deep mid-wicket, where the ball kept moving in and out of Christopher McBride’s hands before he was caught by I would have been successful.
Former captain Holder and Shepherd, who contributed 77 runs for the seventh wicket, were ultimately responsible for the turnaround. He made batting appear simple and assisted West Indies in reaching 150 runs in the 35th over.
McMullen Makes an Instant Impact for Scotland: With their presence, the team could have envisioned reaching a total ranging between 270-280. Nevertheless, the partnership was disrupted in the 37th over when Sharif executed a stunning one-handed catch at the backward point off Watt’s delivery, dismissing Shepherd for 36. In the subsequent over, Holder (45) was given out lbw, further adding to the woes of the West Indies.
In the end, the West Indies were dismissed in the 44th over. McMullen emerged as the standout performer among the Scottish bowlers, claiming impressive figures of 3/32.
West Indies vs Scotland Playing 11:
West Indies: Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope(C/WK), Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, Alzarri Joseph, AJ Hosein
Scotland: R. Berrington(C), Brandon McMullen, Chris McBride, MA Leask, Jack Jarvis, CN Greaves, MH Cross(wk), Tomas Mackintosh, CB Sole, MR. Watt, AC Evans
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