Sensational Saltires cruise into Super 12s to make history
SUCH was the ease with which Scotland booked their place in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup last night you half anticipated the organisers to immediately order DNA tests to make sure they really were Scottish.
Charged with needing to win their third group game in succession to be sure of reaching the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup, a nervy evening was expected against the hosts Oman.
In the end, however, it was anything but as the Saltires thrashed their rivals to qualify comfortably for the latter stage of a World Cup for the first time, setting up meetings with India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and possibly Ireland. The cherry on top is the automatic spot now safely in the bag for next year’s tournament in Australia.
If the eyes of world cricket were not already on Shane Burger’s men before this week, then they surely will be now after topping their group on the back of victories over Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and this eight-wicket romp over Oman. It was as straightforward as it was spectacular.
Scottish success on the cricket field tends to stem from a collective effort and this was another high-water moment achieved through the power of teamwork.
Josh Davey collected the man-of-the-match award for steaming through the Omani tail to take three precious late wickets as Oman set the Scots a total of 123 to chase, while it was Richie Berrington who sealed the victory with another massive six as part of a solid knock of 31 not out.
There was a vital contribution, too, from Kyle Coetzer at the top of the order. The captain has faced calls for him to be stood down after recent struggles with the bat but, when his country needed him, the Aberdonian again delivered with a precious innings of 41 from 28 balls to get the chase going.
It all added up to a seismic night for Scottish cricket and one celebrated late into the Omani night.
“I’m just incredibly happy for this group,” said Burger. “To win this game in the fashion that we did is testament to all the hard work that the boys have put in. This team has been nothing short of inspiring.
“The ability to top a group like we have done I think sends a really strong message not only to the Scottish public but also the cricketing world.
“We’re incredibly happy and proud right now. We’ll just take a couple of days to let it settle in and just enjoy it because this is why we play the game, this is why we put all the hard work in, to experience times like this and the guys need to enjoy it because they deserve it.”
Oman had hoped to put Scotland under pressure after they won the toss and chose to bat but the plan never came to fruition.
By the end of their innings the hosts were left only with regrets as their batters failed to fire and the Scottish bowlers plundered wickets at a steady rate.
Three went the way of Davey, all in the final over, as Oman looked to garner some late runs but instead found only the hands of the Scottish fielders, with Calum MacLeod, in particular, taking the wicket of Zeehan Maqsood with a brilliant catch.
The Oman captain, who made 34, could have departed earlier – twice – only for one dismissal to be chalked off due to a reviewed no ball and then Coetzer dropping a launched effort that skimmed the moon before falling out of the Scotland captain’s grasp.
The only other home batter to really perform was Aqib Ilyas who also benefited from being dropped to make 37 before Michael Leask drew him into a loose shot that was caught sharply by George Munsey.
A fourth wicket also tumbled in the 20th over, Bilal Khan out chasing a second run that was never on the cards as Scotland gave their batters a target that proved to be easily attainable.
Davey was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25, with Sharif and Leask taking two apiece and Mark Watt removing Mohammad Nadeem for 25 thanks to another terrific catch from Berrington who continues to excel in the field.
It was economical bowling at its best and gave Scotland’s batters the perfect platform from which to go on and win the game and Berrington, in conjunction with Matthew Cross, saw them over the line with 18 balls to spare.
All of this stress and anxiety could have been avoided had Papua New Guinea been able to cause an upset by winning their earlier game to send the Scots through without bowling a ball.
That never looked likely when Bangladesh made 181 and so it proved with PNG managing only 97 in their reply.
Instead Scotland had to do it the hard way and did not flinch from the challenge, making another powerful statement that they are now a cricket force to be reckoned with.