ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019: Day 12 - Round Up

Scotland and Oman sealed their place in the next year's T20 World Cup.

Published - 31 Oct 2019, 18:30 IST | Updated - 31 Oct 2019, 18:30 IST

3 Min Read

Having finished fourth in Group A during the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, Scotland had one chance, in the third qualifying play-off, to seal their spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020, and they grabbed it. They knocked hosts UAE out with a 90-run win at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, 30 October, to become the fifth team from the qualifying tournament, after PNG, Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia, to secure a place in the event in Australia next year.

The batsmen, led by George Munsey and Richie Berrington, went on the attack posting a strong 198/6. The UAE reply never got going, and in the face of disciplined bowling and catching, they folded for 108. Opener Munsey’s knock was defined by his signature, emphatic sweeps. He accelerated from a solid start with a couple of sixes to near his half-century, and finished with five shots over the ropes in his 43-ball 65. It took a sensational one-handed catch from Rameez Shahzad at the ropes to stop him.

Berrington picked up where Munsey left off, racing away to 48 off 18 with three sixes. Calum MacLeod’s 25 off 12 balls acted as a late cameo to push the total near 200. Those all came on a foundation of a strong opening stand of 87 in 11.2 overs, with captain Kyle Coetzer keeping pace with his partner.

With a tall total to defend, Scotland’s bowlers came out confident. Safyaan Sharif struck in the first over, Chirag Suri fending awkwardly at a rising delivery. Rohan Mustafa edged behind to the wicket-keeper and UAE had lost their openers for 12. Rameez Shahzad offered some entertainment, but when he became the first of Mark Watt’s three wickets, there was little else to prop UAE up.

Oman win the thriller against Hong Kong

Oman booked their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 after coming back from a dreadful start against Hong Kong to win by 12 runs. Oman struggled at first to bounce back from a demoralising defeat to Namibia on Tuesday, and Hong Kong’s fielding was on point as two direct hit run outs – one each from Nizakat Khan and Kinchit Shah – contributed to a collapse which left Oman 22/3 in the fifth over, and 42/6 by the end of the ninth.

But opener Jatinder Singh (67* from 50) combined with Aamir Kaleem (17) for 42 runs and then Mohammad Naseem (26* from 9) for 50 runs. The latter of those partnerships came from only 19 balls, and dragged Oman up to a competitive, but far from intimidating 134/7.

As bad as Oman’s start was, Hong Kong’s was worse. Bilal Khan (4/23) and Fayyaz Butt (2/17) claimed five wickets between them in the first four overs, leaving the chase in tatters before it began at 18/5. Keeper Scott McKechnie then put on 52 runs with Haroon Arshad (20), before a brace of wickets left Hong Kong needing a manageable 53 runs in 6.3 overs, though with only three wickets in hand.

When McKechnie was dismissed for 44 however, it became apparent that it would be Oman who would be booking a spot in Australia for the T20 World Cup. Hong Kong eventually finished on 122/9.