West Indies became the first team to qualify from the ICC World Cup qualifiers 2018 defeating Scotland by just 5 runs via D/L method at Harare Sports Club, Harare just finished a few moments ago. It was not an easy passage for Jason Holder led the side in the Super Six stages.
Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer won the toss and elected to field first. West Indies got off to a worse possible start losing dangerous Chris and Kyle Hope in initial stages. Marlon Samuels and Evin Lewis steadied the innings with 121 runs stand for the 3rd wicket. Evin Lewis completed his half-century off 63 balls. Samuels played a slow innings scoring 51 runs off 98 balls. The Scotland bowlers did a great job to pick quick wickets and also control the run flow. West Indies were bowled out for 198 in 48.4 overs.
Sharif and Wheal picked 3 wickets each for Scotland. Every Scotland bowler made the life tough for West Indies batsmen.
See you in England and Wales next summer for #CWC19, @westindies! pic.twitter.com/cClx762p7G
— ICC (@ICC) March 21, 2018
Chasing 199, Roach and Captain Jason Holder broke the backbone of Scotland batting line up taking 3 wickets in the first 7 overs. Macleod and Berrington added 42 runs for the 4th wicket. Berrington and Munsey put on 38 runs for the 5th wicket before Berrington was given wrongly out. Leask and Munsey looked good scoring 20 runs before the rain arrived at the score of 125 for 5 in 35.2 overs.
Rain did not stop and Scotland needed to be 130 runs. The two time World Cup Champions made it to World Cup 2019. West Indies put pressure on Scotland batsmen and did not allow them to score runs with ease.
Umpires have called it. Scotland are out.
— Cricket Scotland (@CricketScotland) March 21, 2018
West Indies will now play in the prestigious tournament next year. They could not qualify directly for World Cup 2019 as they finished out of top teams of ODI rankings cut off date of 30th September 2017.
If Zimbabwe wins tomorrow’s match against UAE, then they would become the second team to qualify for World Cup 2019.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! We Are In! Windies will be at the 2019 World Cup! pic.twitter.com/QckKLweNxr
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 21, 2018
West Indies 198 in 48.4 overs ( Evin Lewis 66, Marlon Samuels 51, Sharif 3/27, Wheal 3/34) beat
Scotland 125 for 5 in 35.2 overs ( Berrington 33, Munsey 32*, Leask 14*, Kemar Roach 2/20, AR Nurse 2/35) by 5 runs D/L