Ten international teams are currently in Zimbabwe as they try to cement their place in the 2023 ICC world cup later this year. Only two teams will make it to India from the qualification stages. Sri Lanka and West Indies are the favorites to grab the two spots in the biggest event of the year. Ireland, have grabbed a lot of eyeballs ever since their amazing debut in world cup in 2007 were facing off against Scotland.
The story so far –
Ireland and Scotland faced off each other in the game on Wednesday at Bulawayo. It was the first game of the tournament for Scotland, while Ireland had already played a game and lost to Oman. Scotland wont the toss and chose to bowl first to put pressure on the Irish batting unit.
Mark Adair fails to dismiss Michael Leask using the Mankad –
Scotland needed 8 runs to win the game off the last over which was bowled by Mark Adair. Michael Leask hit the 1st ball for a four and followed it up with a single off the next ball. Scotland needed 3 off 4 balls with Leask at the non-strikers end.
That’s when Adair steaming into bowl to the Scotland batter Safyaan Sharif stopped in his tracks. Leask was outside the crease in the attempt to steal a run as Mark Adair seemingly missed his chance to effect the run out using the Mankad.
Curtis Campher leads Ireland to 286 –
Put into bat, Ireland were in early trouble when they were reduced to 70/5 in the 19th over. Brandon McMullen did the early damage as he dismissed Stirling and Balbirnie for a duck, while Harry Tector fell for 6. Andy McBrine with 32 and Harry Tucker with 6 both Ireland back into the game.
The star with the bat was none other than Curtis Campher who scored 120 off 108 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. Campher was well supported by Dockrell for 69 off 93 balls with 4 fours and a six. For Scotland the star with the ball was Brandon McMullen with 5/34 from 7 overs.
Michael Leask’s 91 takes Scotland to a thrilling win –
Chasing 287 to win, Chris McBride got the Scottish going with 56 off 60 balls with 6 fours and a six. Ireland bowlers reduced Scotland to 152/7 in the 34th over. That’s when Leask and Mark Watt combined to add 91 runs for the 8th wicket in 11 overs. Watt scored 47 off 43 balls with 7 fours. The star for Scotland was Leask who was not out on 91 off 61 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. Scotland won the game when Leask hit Adair for a 4 with 2 runs needed of the last ball of the game.