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West Indies qualifies for World Cup as rain sinks Scotland

March 21, 2018
Groundsmen cover the pitch after the cricket world cup qualifier match between West Indies and Scotland was rain stopped at Harare Sports Club Wednesday. — AP
Groundsmen cover the pitch after the cricket world cup qualifier match between West Indies and Scotland was rain stopped at Harare Sports Club Wednesday. — AP

HARARE — West Indies qualified for next year's Cricket World Cup Wednesday, sneaking through by beating Scotland in a match where rain stopped play with the Scots only just short of the run rate they needed to make it.

Chasing 199 to win, and take the World Cup place, Scotland was 125-5 in the 36th over when the rain came. Scotland needed to be 131-5 or better to win.

It gave West Indies a five-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

"Definitely, we are relieved," West Indies captain Jason Holder said.

The West Indians also qualified for the final of the ICC's qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe with the win over Scotland. Host nation Zimbabwe can secure the last World Cup place available with victory over United Arab Emirates Thursday. If UAE beats Zimbabwe, then Ireland and Afghanistan play for the place.

Scotland had extra reason to be aggrieved in the loss to West Indies when Richie Berrington was given out lbw four overs before rain stopped play. Replays showed the ball missing the stumps and an umpire error, but the decision review system is not being used at the qualifying tournament.

If Berrington was still in and Scotland had lost just four wickets, it would have won on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

"We feel pretty rough about that," said Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer. "We are feeling a little bit emotional right now. The guys are gutted upstairs. Clearly that lbw decision didn't go down well and it's not for the first time in this tournament. It's a big tournament, and a big game, and it come down to that. It's hard to comprehend after all the hard work we've done."

West Indies won the first two editions of the Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979 during its former glory years, but the team tumbled down the One-Day International rankings recently, forcing it to play in the qualifiers.

West Indies began the decisive game against Scotland by losing Chris Gayle with the first ball of the match from Safyaan Sharif and Shai Hope in the third over to be 2-2. Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels made half-centuries to take West Indies to 198 all out, a respectable and ultimately winning total.

Scotland also struggled at the start of its chase but Berrington (33) played an important role in partnerships of 42 with Calum MacLeod and 38 with George Munsey before the weather decided it.

It was decided before the 2015 World Cup that the number of teams at the 2019 tournament would be reduced from 14 to 10 and a new qualification structure would be introduced. Only the hosts and the top seven other teams in the ICC ODI Championship on Sept. 30 last year making the cut.

Super Sixes

Scores: West Indies 198 all out in 48.4 overs (Evin Lewis 66, Marlon Samuels 51; Safyaan Sharif 3-27, Bradley Wheal 3-34) vs. Scotland 125-5 in 35.2 overs. West Indies won by five runs on DLS method. — Agencies


March 21, 2018
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