HARARE: The West Indies failed to qualify for the 50-over cricket World Cup for the first time as the former two-time champions slumped to a seven-wicket thumping by Scotland at the qualifying event in Harare on Saturday.

The Caribbean side, needing a win in the Super Six stage match to keep their slim qualification hopes alive, were bowled out for 181 in their 50 overs before Scotland chased down the target with 6.3 overs to spare at the Harare Sports Club.

The West Indies had previously played at every World Cup, winning the first two editions in 1975 and 1979 held in England.

Shai Hope’s men have zero points with only two matches remaining in the Super Six stage in Zimbabwe after previous defeats by the hosts and the Netherlands.

“There is not one thing I can put my finger on. We let ourselves down in the entire tournament,” said captain Hope.

“The preparation needs to be better. We cannot come here and expect to be an elite team without preparation.

“Cannot expect to wake up one morning and be a great team.”

The global ODI showpiece, which will be held in India from Oct 5-Nov 19, will be notable for the absence of one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses.

Scotland exacted revenge for an agonising and controversial loss by the West Indies at the previous World Cup Qualifier in 2018 which saw them miss out on the main tournament with a first ODI win over their opponents.

“A really important win. We know the importance of every game,” said Scottish skipper Richie Berrington. “Playing for the World Cup is as big as it gets. The boys were outstanding.” They now sit just two points behind Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, with the top two to qualify for the 10-team event, ahead of their final two games against Zimbabwe on Tuesday and the Dutch two days later.

The damage was done early on by the Scottish seam bowlers as they reduced the West Indies to 81-6 after electing to field first.

Young all-rounder Brandon McMullen dismissed the West Indies top three of Brandon King, Johnson Charles and Shamarh Brooks and finished with 3-32 from nine overs.

Scotland’s spinners kept the squeeze on despite a brief fightback from Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd.

Shepherd was brilliantly caught by Safyaan Sharif off the bowling of Mark Watt for 36 and Holder was trapped lbw by Chris Greaves three balls later, as the West Indies lost their last four wickets for 23 runs.

Holder sent back Scotland opener Christopher McBride from the very first delivery of the Scots’ innings to give his team hope.

But a 125-run partnership for the second wicket between McMullen and Matthew Cross put Scotland firmly on course for victory.

McMullen holed out off Shepherd for 69 but the game was already all but won.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein removed George Munsey with 20 required, leaving it up to Cross to guide Scotland home with an unbeaten 74 from 107 balls.

SPINNERS HELP SL BEAT DUTCH

On Friday, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasa­ranga spun through the Dutch batting as Sri Lanka eked out a 21-run victory on Friday in the opening Super Six game for both teams.

The victory kept Sri Lanka tied at the top of the standings with hosts and Sunday’s opponents Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifying tournament and on course for one of two places in India.

Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka had won the toss and chosen to bat — though it looked as if he had made the wrong choice when Sri Lanka struggled to 213 all out in 47.4 overs.

The Dutch, who upset West Indies in the group stage, seemed on course for another surprise when they reduced Sri Lanka to 67-5 and then 96-6.

All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, coming in with five wickets down, helped steer Sri Lanka to a defensible total. He struck 93 off 111 balls hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Medium pacer Logan van Beek took three wickets for 26 runs in nine overs. Bas de Leede claimed 3-42.

The Dutch lost opener Vikramjit Singh for nought to the second ball. The other opener, Max O’Dowd also went for a duck five balls later.

Wesley Barresi and de Leede revived the innings. Barresi was run out for 52 attempting a single into the covers. Teja Nidamanuru then fell to Hasaranga for a duck.

Mystery spinner Theekshana bowled de Leede for 41 and in his next over dismissed Saqib Zulfiqar lbw and, for his third wicket in six balls, bowled van Beek for the fourth Dutch duck.

Shariz Ahmad tried to pinch a single on a misfield by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who whipped off his glove, pounced on the ball and smashed the stumps at the bowler’s end with a laser throw.

Skipper Scott Edwards attempted to slog his team to victory but ran out of partners.

Hasaranga bowled Ryan Klein for 5 with a googly. Then, after an agonising last-wicket stand of 16, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka bowled Aryan Dutt for seven with 10 overs still to play.

Edwards was left on 67 not out.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023