HARARE-Two-time champions West Indies have did not qualify for the World Cup for the primary time ever following their stunning defeat in opposition to Scotland within the Cricket World Cup (CWC) Qualifier.
Put into bat first, the West Indian batting lineup faltered and will solely pile a meagre complete of 181 on the scoreboard earlier than bundling out within the 44th over. West Indies received off to a dismal begin to their innings because the facet misplaced wickets at an alarming price proper from the beginning and was quickly diminished to 81/6 within the 21st over.
Veteran all-rounder Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd tried to anchor their facet’s batting cost by placing on a gutsy partnership for the seventh wicket. Each Holder and Shepherd appeared to have settled down and had been ticking the scoreboard comparatively simpler till each perished within the span of simply three deliveries.
Their 77-run partnership ended with Safyaan Sharif taking a blinder off Mark Watt’s bowling to take away Shepherd, who scored 36 off 43 deliveries, hitting 5 boundaries. Following a much-needed breakthrough, Chris Greaves put Scotland in full command when he trapped Jason Holder in his legs on the primary supply of the 38th over, forcing West Indies to slide to 158/8.
Holder top-scored for the West Indies with a cautious 45 from 79 balls with the assistance of three boundaries and a six. Chris Sole and Greaves then concluded a dominant show of bowling from Scotland by claiming the remaining two wickets – Kevin Sinclair (10) and Alzarri Joseph (6) respectively. Brandon McMullen led the bowling assault for Scotland with 3/32, adopted by two every from Sole, Watt and Greaves.
In response, Scotland comfortably chased down the entire for the lack of simply three wickets and 39 balls to spare, due to good half-centuries by Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen. Scotland had the worst potential begin to the pursuit as they misplaced their opener, Christopher McBride, on the very first supply of the innings. Wicketkeeper batter Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen, nevertheless, quickly anchored the run chase and raised 125 runs for the second wicket till Shepherd eliminated the latter within the 30th over. McMullen scored 69 off 106 deliveries, smashing six boundaries and a six.
Cross, then again, stood his floor agency and carried his bat right through to drive Scotland to a well-known victory. He performed a match-winning 74-run knock from 107 deliveries and hit seven boundaries. For West Indies, Akeal Hosein, Shepherd and Holder may choose up a wicket.