Scotland is the latest team to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020. In the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia have already qualified for the first round of next T20 World Cup event and now Scotland have joined them.
On Wednesday (30th October) afternoon, Scotland faced the hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the third Qualifying Play-off. In that game, Scotland thrashed the hosts and have booked their spot for the next T20 World Cup.
After winning the toss, Scotland decided to bat first. Openers George Munsey and captain Kyle Coetzer provided a very good start for the team as they put the 87 runs partnership. While Coetzer scored 34 runs, Munsey smashed 65 runs off 43 balls (2 fours and 5 sixes).
Later, Richie Berrington played a firing knock of 48 runs off just 18 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes). These knocks helped Scotland to score 198/6 in 20 overs.
Scotland destroyed the UAE batting line-up as the hosts managed only 108 runs
In reply, the UAE lost their wickets in regular intervals and were bundled out for just 108 runs in 18.3 overs. Only Rameez Shahzad (34), Muhammad Usman (20) and Darius D’Silva (19*) reached the double-digit scores in that innings.
Scottish right-arm pacer Safyaan Sharif and left-arm spinner Mark Watt both bagged three wickets. While Watt had the bowling figures of 4-0-21-3, Sharif managed the bowling figures of 3.3-0-21-3.
Scotland beat the hosts by 90 runs, which was also their second-largest T20I victory (by runs). With this victory, Scotland have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020. Before this tournament, Scotland featured in three T20 World Cup editions (2007, 2009 and 2016).
In the T20 World Cup history, Scotland have won only one game, which was against Hong Kong at Nagpur on 12th March 2016. It was also their only victory till the date in the ICC tournament.