Scotland suffer shock defeat to Singapore

Scotland suffered a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup qualifying bid yesterday when they slumped to defeat against minnows Singapore.

The Scots started red-hot favourites in Dubai to ease past opponents ranked 10 places below them in the official standings.

However, chasing 169 for victory, Kyle Coetzer’s men, tipped to win the qualifying tournament, fell two runs short.

They looked on course to secure the expected win when George Munsey got the chase off to a rapid start by hammering 46 from just 25 deliveries.

The left-hander hit seven boundaries and a maximum before holing out off Sidhant Singh.

Oli Hairs departed for 14 before Coetzer opened out with a run-a-ball 38 as the Scots stayed in touch with the required run-rate.

However, when the skipper was out, Scotland lost their way as the pressure built.

Needing 58 from the final 40 deliveries, it looked as if Calum Macleod might stave off the threat of a humiliating defeat as he improvised his way to 44 from just 31 balls.

However, the former Warwickshire and Durham batsman holed out with seven runs needed from the final four deliveries and the tailenders were unable to get their side over the line, the Scots finishing on 166-9.

Earlier, Coetzer’s decision to bowl first paid dividends as Josh Davey and Safyaan Sharif each picked up a wicket to put Singapore in trouble on 7-2.

However, the underdogs rallied impressively, Aritra Dutta leading the counterattack with a belligerent 32 from only 15 deliveries with three sixes.

Surendran Chandramohan anchored the innings with a patient 51, while cameos from Manpreet Singh (26) and Janak Prakash (20) hoisted Singapore’s tally to a challenging 168-6.

Davey and Sharif had two wickets apiece while Hamza Tahir produced four tidy overs to claim 1-26 but Ali Evans and Tom Sole came in for some hefty punishment. Scotland will bid to get their campaign on track when they face Kenya today.

Kyle Coetzer: Scots lost way after the skipper was out.