Scotland’s 42-run overcome two-time champions West Indies on Monday has been lauded because the second huge upset at this 12 months’s T20 World Cup in as many days, after Namibia’s shock victory over Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, wanting on the type of the 2 sides coming into the event, it was not a complete shock.
Scotland solely performed two T20 Internationals since final 12 months’s World Cup, getting drubbed 2-0 by New Zealand. However their ODI leads to the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, the place they’ve received 5 of their final six video games, have proven the depth of their expertise.
Towards the West Indies, George Munsey was the star of the present with the bat, and Mark Watt with the ball. Each had their first style of massive success towards Take a look at-playing nations, however they – identical to the remainder of the squad – have quietly made their mark in Affiliate cricket.
What a efficiency 🔥
Scotland get their marketing campaign underway with a commanding victory towards West Indies 💪#T20WorldCup | #WIvSCO | 📝 https://t.co/zYWEnEHtif pic.twitter.com/rWZPmS9wyR
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2022
Munsey hit an unbeaten 53-ball 66, his eighth T20I half-century, to set the tone of the batting innings. He got here out of the blocks with some clear ball placing, going after the Windies assault within the preliminary phases. The opener, a former golf protégé, is thought for quick begins (he has a strike fee of 144 in addition to a T20I century to his identify), and bought just a few runs on the World Cup final 12 months, however he appeared to decelerate towards spin after a rain delay.
Later within the innings, Chris Greaves, having gained a repute because the aspect’s prime finisher when he smashed 45 off 28 balls within the nation’s one and solely World Cup win over Bangladesh final 12 months, contributed with two late boundaries, together with Calum MacLeod’s 14-ball 23 to achieve a stable complete of 166.
Within the West Indies innings, Watt and Michael Leask did the massive harm. Watt ended his 4 overs with 3-12, after having opened the bowling and wreaking havoc on the Caribbean aspect’s high order. Ever since gaining recognition within the UAE final 12 months, Watt has made his identify as a misleading spin bowler who can use all circumstances to his benefit. He has the power to range each line and size, irritating batters, and altering the tempo, angle, and trajectory with out truly using a lot spin. Leask supplied variation, by getting flip off the pitch, however Watt’s efficiency put Scotland’s superior preparation and techniques on show.
George Munsey brings up his eighth T20I half-century 👏#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Sfc1Gjl59R
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2022
Regardless of headline efforts from the above gamers, Scotland’s triumph was one for your complete group and borne out of togetherness and group spirit. They confirmed the benefits of a gaggle enjoying as a lot cricket collectively as potential with out too many adjustments – even when meaning enjoying fewer matches – and their earlier outcomes have proved they’re one of many high sides outdoors cricket’s elite, the most effective of the remainder, and their identify could also be taken quickly with the likes of Afghanistan and Eire.
New-look Windies in danger
West Indies’ elimination from the World Cup earlier than the Tremendous 12 stage now appears to be like like an actual risk. In truth, in the event that they lose to Zimbabwe, and Scotland beat Eire – each prospects wanting likelier after Monday’s outcomes – their early exit will likely be confirmed, making their subsequent recreation a must-win.
The group from the Caribbean goes by way of a serious transition in the meanwhile. The embarrassment of final 12 months’s T20 World Cup, the place they have been capable of win just one match, continues to be recent in reminiscence, and they’re lacking a few of their largest names.
Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are retired, the likes of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine haven’t been chosen, the veterans not seemingly built-in with youthful gamers within the group, and to make issues worse, Shimron Hetmeyer, considered one of their main batsmen, was not noted of the group on the final minute after he missed an already rescheduled flight to Australia.
On paper, nonetheless, they nonetheless have some high names. Skipper Nicholas Pooran has made a reputation for himself in franchise and worldwide cricket over the previous few years, and each Evin Lewis and Rovman Powell have been stable prior to now. Their bowling assault is reliant on Obed McCoy and Jason Holder, each of whom had an off-day on Monday. In addition they bat deep, however none of them appears to bat very lengthy, and their implosion towards Scotland is trigger for concern.
Their incapacity to get outcomes collectively stems from the shortage of the identical attribute that labored so properly for Scotland towards them: togetherness. For a few years now, the two-time T20 world champions have persistently performed much less and fewer cricket collectively, regardless of having achieved loads in T20 leagues world wide.
They’re lacking the expertise and high quality that the recently-retired stalwarts gave them, however even once they all met through the World Cup final 12 months, there was an evident lack of chemistry among the many group, which is being displayed by the newer technology too. Since then, the Windies have performed 24 T20Is, greater than sufficient to be properly ready for the World Cup, however related points persist.