Super Sixes – Scotland sink West Indies in comfortable victory

Scotland (184/3, 43.3 overs) beat West Indies (181 all out, 43.5 overs) by 7 wickets

Scotland landed the final blow to the West Indies, meaning the two time world champions will miss out on the ODI World Cup for the first time. Scotland remain alive in the tournament after a comfortable chase in Harare.

As has been commonplace throughout the competition, the winning captain opted to bowl and Scotland’s Richie Berrington continued the trend today.

Chris Sole and Brandon McMullen shared the new ball and found immediate success for the Saltires. McMullen accounted for three wickets in the first 6 overs: Johnson Charles (0), Shamarh Brookes (0) and Brandon King (22). Sole accounted for Kyle Mayers for 5 and the West Indies were 30/4 in the 7th.

Safyaan Sharif landed a crucial blow dismissing Shai Hope caught behind just after the powerplay. Captain Nicholas Pooran dug in until the 21 over, before attempting to slog sweep Mark Watt. Despite the favourable match up, Pooran did not get a clean connection and Chris McBride took a juggling catch on the boundary, 81/6.

Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd provided the most resistance with a 77 partnership, but both fell in quick succession. Shepherd was caught by a spectacular catch by Sharif at short-third, before Chris Greaves trapped Holder LBW. From 158/6, Scotland made light work of the tail to bowl out the West Indies for 181.

Any dying embers of hope in the West Indies camp relied on early wickets, one of which came immediately as McBride chipped Holder to midwicket for a golden duck. But that was as good as it got for the double champions, as slowly-but-surely, Scotland settled into their work.

Matthew Cross was joined by McMullen and the pair steadily built a 125-run partnership that put the game wholly within the Saltires control. McMullen was out for 69, caught on the boundary by Shepherd.

George Munsey, returning to the side from illness, joined Cross at the crease. Far from needing to be attacking, the pair kept up their 4-per-over run rate. Munsey managed 14 before being caught at backward point, but by this point Scotland needed only 20 to win. Berrington (13*), accompanied by an unbeaten Cross (74*) saw Scotland home with 7 wickets and 39 balls in reserve.

Scotland in effect have received retribution after their controversial defeat in the same fixtures at the last qualifier in 2018. With two wins in three games, the Saltires remain in the hunt for qualification. West Indies, with no wins in their three games towards the Super Six stage, are officially eliminated, unable to overcome the 6 point gap to Zimbabwe in the remaining two games.

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