Cricket World Cup Qualifier Day 6 – Sri Lanka crush Oman, Scotland fight back

Day 6 of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe saw Sri Lanka crush Oman by 10 wickets, whilst Scotland hit back from an early collapse to beat UAE.

Sri Lanka (100/0, 15 overs) defeated Oman (98 all out, 30.2 overs) by 10 wickets

Sri Lanka produced another dominant display to crush Oman by 10 wickets and take their 2^nd win in two games at the qualifier.

It was Dasun Shanaka who won the toss and asked Oman to bat first at Queen’s Sports Club, Bulawayo. And the Sri Lankans didn’t have to wait long for early rewards, as Kashyap Prajapati was trapped LBW for 1 in the second over by Lahiru Kumara. Aaqib Ilyas fell for 6 in the 5^th over to Kasun Rajitha to make it 15/2. Kumara returned to dismissed Zeeshan Maqsood and Mohammed Nadeem in the 8^th and 10^th overs to reduce the Sultanate to 20/4.

Jatinder Singh and Aayan Khan resisted for a 50 partnership, but then Wanindu Hasaranga arrived. The legspinner picked up from his 6 wicket haul on Monday by taking three wickets in the 21^st over to make the score 72/7. Nadeem Kushi was run out, before Hasaranga retuned to finish off the tail for his 2^nd 5-fer of the tournament, Oman were 98 all out.

In reply, the Sri Lankan openers made light work of the 99-run chase. Pathum Nissanka made 37* and Dimuth Karunaratne 61* as the Lankans completed the chase for no loss in 15 overs.

Scotland (282/8, 50 overs) defeated UAE (171 all out, 35.3 overs) by 111 runs

Captain Richie Berrington produced a stunning hundred to rescue Scotland from an early collapse, as the Saltires went two from two to open their campaign.

Scotland had been put into bat at Bulawayo Athletic Club, and the Emiratis put the pressure on from the outset. Junaid Siddique and Ali Naseer accounted for three Scottish wickets in the powerplay, before Zahoor Khan picked up a fourth in the 15^th over, leaving the Saltires struggling at 48/4.

Richie Berrington had survived the early onslaught and was joined by Michael Leask at the crease. The two were initially watchful but steadily began to increase the run rate. Leask was unable to repeat his rearguard heroics from the Ireland game, and fell for 41 with the score 115/5. After another period of slow scoring, Berrington, aided by Greaves, started to go on the offensive.

Greaves fell for 22, and Jack Jarvis for 2, but Mark Watt came out on the attack at number 9 as he and Berrington began building a strong score. The pair raised 110 off the last 11 overs, Watt making 44* off 30 balls. Berrington was run out off the final ball attempting a second, eventually dismissed for 127 off 136. Scotland finished on 282/8.

UAE showed much more intent than Scotland early on, and were never behind Scotland’s comparative score at any stage of their innings. But where the Saltires had built three partnerships of over 50, the Emiratis’ best combo accounted for 36.

A double strike from Chris Sole in the 5^th over opened the door for Scotland, and Rohan Mustafa’s counter punch was quickly dealt with in the following over. Captain Mohammed Waseem made 38, and Basil Hameed 30 off 29 balls. But after they fell, resistance was limited, with Safyaan Sharif knocking over the tail for a 4-wicket haul. UAE were 171 all out, defeated by 111 runs.

Standings

Sri Lanka return to the top of Group B, after two wins from two and with a superlative net run rate, leaving them on the brink of qualification for the Super 6s. Scotland have also moved up to 2^nd place, after going two from two, with Oman falling to 3^rd place, tied on 4 points but with a negative NRR after their heavy defeat.

Ireland languish in 4^th place after two defeats to open their campaign, needing to win both their remaining fixtures to advance. UAE, winless in three games, are last and out of contention for the Super 6s.

 

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