MUSCAT: Scotland reached the T20 World Cup second round for the first time on Thursday with a thumping eight-wicket win over Oman.

The Scots comfortably chased down their target of 123 with 18 balls to spare to register their third win out of three in qualifying.

Captain Kyle Coetzer top-scored for Scotland with 41 off 28 balls with three sixes and two fours despite taking a nasty blow on his hand.

Richie Berrington, finished the game with a huge six to remain 31 not out. Matthew Cross (26) was also undefeated.

Scotland will go into Group 2 of the Super 12s alongside Afghanistan, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and the runners-up from qualifying Group ‘A’ — likely to be either Ireland or Namibia.

Bangladesh, who were stunned by Scotland in their opening game, secured the second qualifying spot in Group ‘B’ by seeing off Papua New Guinea by 84 runs.

They will play in Group 1 alongside Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, probably Sri Lanka and either Ireland or Namibia.

“What a day for Scottish cricket, the boys are buzzing,” said player-of-the-match and fast bowler Josh Davey who took 3-25. “It was a great occasion to showcase my skills, we had a bit of luck but will take that every day of the week. “We’ve got the belief, a lot of bases covered, and T20 is about momentum, and we can take that on.”

Scotland came into the 2021 tournament having never progressed beyond the first round in their three previous appearances, winning just one game in seven.

Scotland restricted Oman to 122 all out.

Oman, who won the toss and opted to bat, had a terrible start when Jatinder Singh was out second ball following a run-out mix-up which left him and opener Aqib Ilyas at the same end.

Ilyas went on to top score with 37 off 35 balls but the home side never shook off the shackles of the Scottish bowling.

Only three Oman batters reached double figures.

Sri Lanka qualified on Wednesday from Group ‘A’ with either Ireland or Namibia set to join them on Friday.

ScoreboardOMAN:

Aaqib Ilyas c Munsey b Leask 37

Jatinder Singh run out 0

K.H. Prajapati c Munsey b Sharif 3

Mohammad Nadeem c Berrington b Watt 25

Zeeshan Maqsood c MacLeod b Davey 33

S. Goud c Greaves b Sharif 5

Naseem Khushi c MacLeod b Leask 2

Suraj Kumar c Wheal b Davey 4

Fayyaz Butt c Greaves b Davey 7

Bilal Khan run out 1

Khawar Ali not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-1) 4

TOTAL (all out, 20 overs) 122

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-13, 3-51, 4-79, 5-93, 6-96, 7-105, 8-117, 9-118.

BOWLING: Wheal 3-0-24-0; Davey 4-0-25-3; Sharif 4-0-25-2; Watt 4-0-23-1; Greaves 2-0-9-0 (1nb); Leask 3-0-13-2.

SCOTLAND:

H.G. Munsey c Jatinder b Fayyaz 20

K.J. Coetzer b Khawar 41

M.H. Cross not out 26

R.D. Berrington not out 31

Extras (w-4, nb-1) 5

Total (for two wkts, 17 overs) 123

FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-75.

DID NOT BAT: C.S. MacLeod, M.A. Leask, C.N. Greaves, M.R.J. Watt, J.H. Davey, Safyaan Sharif, B.T.J. Wheal.

BOWLING: Bilal Khan 3-0-15-0 (2w); Fayyaz Butt 3-0-26-1 (1nb, 1w); Aaqib Ilyas 2-0-14-0; Zeeshan Maqsood 3-0-19-0 (1w); Khawar Ali 4-0-27-1; Mohammad Nadeem 2-0-22-0.

RESULT: Scotland won by eight wickets.

UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan) and C.B. Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: H.D.P.K. Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Josh Davey (Scotland).

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021