“It’s massive for Scottish cricket to reach a World Cup … a brilliant achievement”
● After mixed performances in group stage, favourites step up to thrash UAE and qualify for 2020 global jamboree
Man-of-the-match GEORGE
MUNSEY led the celebrations after his 65 helped Scotland reach next year’s T20 finals in Australia with victory over United Arab Emirates yesterday.
A fired-up Scotland side turned on the style to march triumphantly into next year’s T20 World Cup thanks to a 90-run win over United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
The Scots blew hot and cold during the group stage of the qualifying tournament but lifted their game in yesterday’s sudden death play-off.
They first batted superbly and then dominated their rivals with the ball as they belatedly found the form that had seen them go into the competition as favourites.
Man-of-the-match George Munsey who smashed a brilliant 65, said: “It’s massive for Scottish cricket to reach a Worldcup–abrilliantachievement by the players, the support staff and everyone back home who supports the game.
“It’s always nice to score runs for the team but I think as a collective unit we batted brilliantly. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but it’s great to get over the line in a must-win game.”
Defending a massive total of 198 for six, Scotland made an early breakthrough, Safyaan Sharif taking a wicket in the first over when Chirag Suri skiedacatchtomatthewcross.
Better followed when Josh Davey struck with his first delivery, Rohan Mustafa edging a second catch to keeper Cross. Rameez Shahzad counter-attacked impressively with two boundaries and two sixes in his 34 before Mark Watt induced a false stroke and Munsey took a simple catch in the deep.
At 54 for three in the ninth over UAE were falling behind the required run rate and the introduction of Richie Berrington
brought a further wicket as the Scots turned the screw.
Watt picked up a second scalp, courtesy of a fine running catch by Michael Leask, and a third in the same over when an arm ball bowled Sultan Ahmad for a duck. There was no way back for the hosts, Sharif and Watt the pick of the bowlers, each with three for 21 as UAE succumbed to 108 all out.
Earlier Scotland produced a batting display of aggression and skill to all but put the game out of the reach of their rivals.
Munsey set the tone with two reverse sweeps for six in the second over as he and Kyle Coetzer laid the platform for a substantial total. The hardhitting left-hander dominated the opening stand of 87 though the skipper did contribute a valuable run-a-ball 34 with four boundaries before holing 2 It’s selfie time for Scotland after the win over United Arab Emirates in the play-off ensured they qualified for the T20 World Cup which will be held in Australia in 2020. out to long-off. Munsey continued to take the attack to the home bowlers, striking a further three maximums including one audacious reversesweep off a full toss which flew high into the stands. However, having reached a fine 65, he was out to a stunning diving catch on the boundary by Rameez Shahzad as Ahmed Raza claimed the big wicket.
The Scots, though, were not finished and it was left to the experienced Berrington and Calum Macleod to add the finishing touches to an innings that was full of attacking intent.
Berrington, at his destructive best, powered four boundaries and three massive sixes in his 18-ball 48 while Macleod improvised his way to 25 from only 11 deliveries, sweeping three boundaries in the final over as Scotland’s total fell just short of 200.