It was all the time a troublesome ask for West Indies after the 2 physique blows they suffered final week within the group stage, however on Saturday on the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe all of it got here crashing down for the nation that was as soon as hailed as drive to reckon with in cricket, regardless of the format. The winner of two ODI World Cup trophies and as soon as a world beater, obtained a actuality test on Saturday after they suffered a seven-wicket loss to Scotland within the Super Six stage to crash out of the race to make it to India for the 2023 World Cup in October.
West Indies cricket hits a brand new low(AP)
History was towards them after they put ahead a sorry trying scorecard. Scotland assault was bang on track with the brand new ball as they despatched West Indies 4 down inside seven overs for simply 65 runs. Nicholas Pooran regarded to limit the autumn of wicket with what regarded as a wise 43-ball 21 earlier than throwing away his wicket.
Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd then aimed to stage a late fightback with their regular 77-run stand the place the previous scored 45 off 79 whereas the latter added 36 off 43, however quickly after the dismissal of the No.8, the remainder of the line-up crumbled in a blink of an eye fixed. With yet one more shoddy batting efficiency, West Indies have been bundled for under 181 runs.
They had by no means defended a scored of 200 or much less within the final 5 years in ODI cricket whereas Scotland have mastered the artwork of chasing within the format, successful 12 of their final 14 cases.
Holder did give West Indies the right begin after he dismissed opener Christopher McBride within the first ball of the innings, however a valiant 125-run stand between Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen, who was additionally the choose the bowlers along with his 3/32, ensured Scotland have been heading in the right direction for one of the crucial vital wins of their ODI historical past. Both scored their respective half-centuries en path to the century stand. And whereas McMullen was dismissed in his bid to complete off the chase, Cross continued the rest of the cost single-handedly along with his unbeaten 74 off 107 as Scotland wrapped it up in 43.3 overs.
West Indies already had their World Cup probabilities hanging by a thread after their losses towards Zimbabwe and Netherlands, with the latter being in an exhilarating Super Over contest within the highest-scoring tied ODI. Their solely two wins within the group stage got here towards Nepal and United States, which though helped them make the Super Six stage of the Qualifiers match, however as per the principles, they could not carry ahead the factors from these two wins.
With Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe persevering with their unbeaten run even within the Super Six stage, West Indies’ solely hope was to bounce again to successful methods and produce other elements go their manner. Alas, they let slip of the chance that was of their management, leaving destiny to befriend them of their hope to make the 2023 World Cup.
2023 version would be the first ever males’s ODI World Cup with out two-time winners West Indies, who grew to become the second workforce to be eradicated within the Super Six stage after Oman. Sri Lanka and Netherlands, with six factors every from three video games, nonetheless stand in pole place to make the World Cup in India with Scotland threatening to pose a battle having secured 4 factors in three matches to face third. Netherlands, in the meantime, stand fourth with two factors in three video games.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
