The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Real granite stand by Cross and Leask
Cricket: Aberdonians set up another Scots win
Scotland pulled off the highest run-chase of the T20 World Cup qualifier yesterday to end their campaign on a high with victory over Oman in Dubai.
Following the euphoria of clinching a place among the elite at next autumn’s global event in Australia, the Scots were targeting fifth place at the ICC Academy.
Set 168 for victory, the prospects looked gloomy when they were struggling on 77-4 with more than half their innings already having gone.
However, a brilliant stand of 61 in just 5.5 overs between Aberdonian duo Matthew Cross and Michael Leask put them back on course.
Leask eventually holedout for a fine 38 from only 21 balls including three boundaries and two maximums while man-ofthe-match Cross went on to see his side home.
Joined by Tom Sole (13no), Cross finished unbeaten on 61, having faced 45 balls and stroked eight boundaries as the Scots completed a fivewicket success with an over to spare.
Earlier they had conceded more runs– 167 – then they had since their shock opening-day defeat by Singapore as the Omani batsmen hit out.
Their effort was based largely on a second wicket stand of 44 between Khawar Ali and Aqib Ilyas after Ali Evans had made an early breakthrough, taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Jatinder Singh.
Ali top-scored with a fluent 43 including eight boundaries while Ilyas weighed-in with 23 including one maximum.
The platform laid by the pair allowed the later batsmen to score rapidly with 55 runs added in the final five overs.
Evans was Scotland’s leading wicket-taker with 3-39 while Mark Watt was again economical, claiming 1-22 from his fine four overs.
Yesterday’s win will give Kyle Coetzer’s side a higher ranking when they head to Australia next autumn for what will be a fourth appearance at a T20 World Cup.