Scotland defeats two-time World T20 champions in another World T20 qualification upset
Another day another upset in Australia as Scotland prevail over West Indies.
Squads.
Scotland.
George Munsey, Michael Jones, Matthew Cross (wk), Richie Berrington (c), Calum MacLeod, Chris Greaves, Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Josh Davey, Safyaan Sharif, Brad Wheal.
West Indies.
Kyle Mayers, Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy.
As it happened
The West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to field first.
Scotland’s openers, George Munsey and Michael Jones batted through the mandatory powerplay, amassing a 50-run partnership.
Munsey, the famed maverick dashing batter, was tasked with batting throughout the innings while holding onto his wicket without tossing it away. With dazzling scores in the last T20 World Cup, he demonstrated his batting abilities.
Jason Holder, ever-present, drew first blood by uprooting Jones’ stumps and giving a much-needed breakthrough.
None of the batters listed below contributed significantly, yet they did well as a team, earning scores such as 20, 23, and 16.
Keeper Cross, captain Berrington, and Macleod all had promising starts but were unable to capitalize.
The Scots scored 160 thanks to a late bloom by Greeves and Munsey.
West Indies innings
Despite losing two wickets in the powerplay, they looked strong. After a promising string of hits, both openers were back within the powerplay. The West Indies were at 53 after losing two wickets, but the requisite run rate was never an issue.
The sort of cricket they play is simple to grasp. There is no way to avoid a crushing victory or a crushing defeat. Everyone inexorably threw away their wickets, with wickets falling in clumps.
Mark Watt and Leask laid the groundwork for the collapse by placing the most bankable duo under pressure.
Scotland’s bowlers once again performed admirably as a unit, with everyone chipping in with a wicket or two to secure victory over the Windies.
Holder was fighting alone, scoring 38 runs, and was the last guy to be ejected.
A humiliating and devastating defeat and they are now challenged with taking on teams who have just risen to prominences, such as Ireland and Zimbabwe.
The difference between the two underdog victories over the last two days was that neither squad relied on individual brilliance but rather performed as a unit.
