Scotland witnessed a thrilling and dramatic victory over Ireland at the World Cup Qualifier as Michael Leask played a pivotal role, smashing an unbeaten 91 off just 61 balls, including the final ball of the match. The encounter took place in Bulawayo, where Scotland found themselves in a precarious situation at 152/7 in the 34th over while chasing a challenging target of 287. However, Leask’s outstanding innings ensured a victorious start to their campaign.
On the other hand, Ireland faced a disheartening defeat, marking their second consecutive loss in Group B after being beaten by Oman in their opening match. With the World Cup Qualifier featuring ten teams, only two will qualify for the main tournament scheduled for October and November in India.
Reflecting on the remarkable victory, Leask expressed his joy, especially considering the past challenging encounters with Ireland. He emphasized the unity and strength of the team, highlighting that this victory is just the beginning of their journey, and they will continue to play with resilience.
Scotland aims to rectify the disappointments of the previous qualifying tournament in 2018, where they narrowly missed out on a spot in the World Cup due to a controversial lbw decision and untimely rain, resulting in a heartbreaking defeat against the West Indies. Similarly, Ireland faced a similar fate, failing to qualify after participating in the previous three World Cups.
Meanwhile, Oman currently leads the Group B table, having secured two consecutive wins, including a five-wicket triumph over the United Arab Emirates.
For Ireland, the defeat against Scotland has put them in a precarious position, and they may need to defeat former world champions Sri Lanka in their upcoming game to keep their hopes alive. Scotland, on the other hand, is set to face the UAE in their next match.
In another match, the UAE posted a total of 227/8, with Aayan Afzal Khan contributing an unbeaten 58. However, Oman comfortably chased down the target with four overs to spare, thanks to fifties from Aqib Ilyas, Shoaib Khan, and Mohammad Nadeem.
