World Cup Qualifiers: Scotland beat Ireland in thriller, Oman thump UAE

By SABC Sport
21st June 2023

Michael Leask blasted Scotland to a dramatic one-wicket victory in their opening World Cup qualifier fixture as Ireland's hopes were dealt a major blow despite Curtis Campher's brilliant century.

The number seven, who came to the crease at 117 for five with his side chasing 287 for victory in Group B, scored an unbeaten 91 to edge the Scots home by one wicket off the final ball in Bulawayo and condemn the Irish to a second successive defeat.

Andy Balbirnie's men had earlier set a total of 286 for eight, due in large part to Campher's maiden one-day international century.

He and George Dockrell put on 136 for the sixth wicket after their side had slumped to 70 for five after being put in with Campher, who had been left out of the opening defeat by Oman, going on to make 120 from 108 balls, including four sixes and nine fours, before falling to the penultimate delivery of the innings.

Ireland were in trouble from the off when Brandon McMullen, who finished the day with five for 34 from seven overs, removed opener Paul Stirling without scoring with his second ball and skipper Balbirnie with his third, and then accounted for the dangerous Harry Tector for six.

By the time Lorcan Tucker and opener Andy McBrine had followed them back to the pavilion, Ireland were struggling before Campher and Dockrell, who made 69, stepped in to set a competitive target.

Scotland's pursuit started in disappointing fashion when Matthew Cross was trapped in front by Mark Adair for four, and Adair struck again in the 11th over to remove McCullen for 10 and reduce them to 56 for two.

Opener Chris McBride steered the Scots into calmer waters, completing his first one-day international 50 from 53 balls, but fell having added just six more when Campher hurried one through his defences and rapped his pads.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as George Munsey, Richie Berrington, Tomas Mackintosh and Chris Greaves all made starts, but failed to capitalise.

However, Leask, who shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 82 with Mark Watt before he went for 47, refused to be bowed.

With Scotland needing 44 from the final four overs, he took charge with an uncompromising 61-ball knock in which he hit four sixes and nine fours and earned his reward when, needing two to secure victory, he bottom-edged the final delivery through fine leg to spark wild celebrations.

Oman coast to victory over UAE for second consecutive win

In the other Group B match, Aqib Ilyas' second successive half-century steered Oman to victory over the United Arab Emirates to boost their hopes of making the Super Six.

Two days on from the momentous chase against Ireland, Oman did it again in Bulawayo, easing to a five-wicket win against the UAE.

A fine effort with the ball, after electing to field first, put Oman in a strong position as they restricted the UAE to 227 for eight from their 50 overs.

A trio of half-centuries, including a second in a row from Aqib Ilyas, were then enough to see Oman home with four overs to spare despite a shaky start.

Jay Odedra (3/31) was the star of the show with the ball, bowling Ramez Shahzad (38) and Vriitya Aravind (49) in quick succession after their 87-run stand for the third wicket.

He added Ali Naseer to bring Aayan Afzal Khan to the wicket, with the 17-year-old giving his side a chance with a crucial knock.

Aayan hit 10 fours on his way to an unbeaten 58 from just 52 deliveries, adding 40 with Karthik Meiyappan and 33 with Zahoor Khan.

Needing 228 to win, Oman lost both openers to Junaid Siddique (2/31), Kashyap Prajapati first to go for six with Jatinder Singh (2) soon following.

That brought Aqib and Shoaib Khan together, the pair adding exactly 100 before Rohan Mustafa got through the defences of Aqib on 53.

Shoaib then left the field with cramps, before Zeeshan Maqsood was LBW to Rohan for one as the chase started to falter.