Scotland slump to ODI defeat as Omani batsmen gain swift revenge

● Remarkable turnaround as hosts hit back from humiliation to level series

Scotland crashed to a shock defeat yesterday as minnows Oman produced a stunning turnaround following Tuesday’s thumping loss.

The Scots had dismissed their rivals for just 24 runs the previous day en-route to a record win but Oman exacted revenge in stunning style, triumphing by 93 runs.

Chasing 249 to wrap-up the three-match 50-over series, Kyle Coetzer’s men were quickly in trouble with the skipper, Matthew Cross and Calum Macleod all gone.

Richie Berrington and George Munsey staged a minirevival, taking the total from 43-3 to 96 before the former departed for 37.

Berrington’s dismissal sparked a second collapse as Craig Wallace and Munsey followed soon after.

Only Mark Watt offered late resistance with 36 as the Scots slumped to 155 all out, Mohammed Nadeem and Badal Singh claiming three wickets apiece.

Earlier, the Omani batsmen bounced back impressively from Tuesday’s humiliation.

While the rampant Scottish bowlers had taken all ten wickets for a paltry 24 in the opening match, on this occasion they could not even bowl their hosts out, claiming eight scalps as the home batsmen scored 248.

A 32-run opening stand in just 4.5 overs paved the way for a much-improved display in which Nadeem and Khurram Nawaz each scored 64.

The latter’s effort came from just 45 balls and included five punishing maximums as Oman accelerated impressively in the closing overs.

Safyaan Sharif was Scotland’s leading wicket-taker with 3-60 but the final outcome was a severe jolt for Coetzer’s side who must lift themselves for tomorrow’s series decider.

Acting head coach Toby Bailey said afterwards: “Firstly, credit to Oman for coming back like that after yesterday’s game. It shows again the strength of Associate cricket.

“We didn’t start well, pulled it back a bit but they had wickets in hand and were able to take advantage of the short boundaries.

“Although we weren’t at our best we’d have taken a total of 250 to chase in a 50-over game but we just didn’t fire with the bat.

“We have to go away and be brutally honest with ourselves and learn from what happened. We’ll have to play the likes of Oman in the World Cricket League and we have to be ready for these types of situations and what’s important is that we learn and get better and better.”

The sides meet again tomorrow in the deciding match of the series and Bailey added: “Oman thoroughly deserved their victory but what we have to do is reflect, again be brutally honest and come back in two days’ time ready for the real battle to win the series.

“That’s cricket and we’ll look forward to it.”