Coetzer hits century as dominant Scots crush Kenya to clinch second spot in WCL
Kyle Coetzer stroked the tenth ton of his international career as Scotland completed their World Cricket League campaign with a crushing win over Kenya yesterday.
Batting first at the Dubai International Stadium, skipper Coetzer led from the front to score 121 as his side amassed 266 for eight before romping to victory by 161 runs.
The former Durham and Northants opener hit ten boundaries and two maximums in his 130-ball knock and needs just one more threefigure score to match Iain Philip’s all-time record.
He had excellent support from Craig Wallace, who hit a run-a-ball 49 with four boundaries and a six before Michael Leask set the seal on a dominant batting display by facing just 11 deliveries for his 23no.
Safyaan Sharif, making his 100th Scotland appearance, then claimed a wicket in the first over of Kenya’s reply as the Scots tightened their grip.
Ali Evans also got in on the wicket-taking act before Chris Sole, celebrating a new deal with Hampshire, produced a devastating burst to claim three scalps in quick succession as Kenya slumped to 47 for six. Sole went on to complete his best figures for Scotland of 4-24 while five Kenya batsmen were dismissed for ducks in a miserable total of 105. The win clinched second place in the World Cricket League (WCL) for Coetzer’s side who will now prepare for the World Cup Qualifier to be staged in Zimbabwe in March.
Coetzer, pictured, and his Scotland team-mates head home from Dubai today, having completed the double over Kenya, and the skipper said: “Today was a good way to finish the tour but it’s all about the World Cup qualifiers now.
“We have a great group of players here and others at home who want to be part of the squad. Everyone is striving to get better physically, mentally and technically as well so that we continue to improve as a team. We want to put pressure on ourselves as we go into the qualifiers in the spring.”
Of yesterday’s win Coetzer added: “The wicket was pretty good and we can’t complain about the total we got. I probably had a bit of luck but it was one of these days when things came off for me.”