Rain, a controversial lbw and DLS: Scotland miss out on Cricket World Cup

Scotland have failed to qualify for the 2019 cricket World Cup after an agonising, rain-affected, five-run defeat to West Indies via the DLS method.

West Indies won the one-day international by five runs on the DLS method having been bowled out by Scotland for 198. Scotland seemed on course to knock off the runs required when, at 125-5, heavy rain began to fall while they were five runs adrift of the DLS par score.

To make matters worse for Scotland, Richie Berrington had been given out lbw to a ball that appeared to be going down the leg side a few overs before the rain started to fall. Had he not been given out, and had he scored the same number of runs as the next man in - Michael Leask – Scotland would have been ahead of the DLS rate by three runs thanks to their extra wicket in hand.

However, there was no decision review system available in Harare and the umpire’s decision could not be challenged.

The result means Jason Holder’s side qualify for the final of the World Cup qualifiers and with it the tournament proper, while Scotland miss out having suffered their second successive defeat of the Super Six stage.

After losing to Ireland on Sunday, Scotland headed to Harare for what was essentially a knockout match against the West Indies and they enjoyed a dream start.

The dangerous Chris Gayle, was out to the first ball of the match as Safyaan Sharif produced a beauty to have the big-hitting left-hander caught behind.

Things got even better when Shai Hope feathered one behind with the first ball of Sharif’s next over, and from two for two, West Indies were forced to rebuild. Marlon Samuels and Evin Lewis gradually found fluency as Scotland lost discipline.

The pair put on 121 for the third wicket, but it took them almost 30 overs to do so before the impressive Brad Wheal had Lewis trapped lbw for 66.

Samuels fell soon and thanks to some fine death bowling from Sharif (three for 27) and Wheal (three for 34) they managed to restrict them to 198, which looked within reach on a good track.

Scotland, who have struggled with the bat throughout the tournament, needed a good start but tcaptain Kyle Coetzer fell cheaply, before Matt Cross and Michael Jones also perished as they slipped to 25 for three.

Calum MacLeod and Berrington were forced to take a leaf out of Lewis and Samuels’ book as they took their time to establish a partnership before the former toed one back to Ashley Nurse on 21.

Harry Munsey succeeded in upping the tempo but just as he and Berrington looked like they were putting Scotland into a position of strength, Berrington was given out lbw in controversial fashion, with the ball appearing to be sliding down leg.

As the clouds drew in with Scotland behind the rate, Leask made a last-ditch effort to try and get them up to the par score but the players were dragged off the pitch with Scotland 125 for five in the 36th over and the torrential rain eventually meant the game had to be called off with them agonisingly short of realising their World Cup dream.

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