McMullen ton, Greaves five-for arrange Scotland’s huge win
Scotland 320 (McMullen 136, Berrington 60, Bilal 5-55) beat Oman 244 for 9 (Khushi 69, Shoaib 36, Greaves 5-53) by 76 runs
Brandon McMullen‘s title sounds fairly just like Brendon McCullum’s. On Sunday morning, in what appeared like a Bazball effort in Bulawayo, McMullen additionally performed fairly like McCullum, switching gears from being 9 off 21 balls at one stage to ending with 136 from 121. That took Scotland to 320 in 50 overs after that they had managed simply 47 within the first 13. In reply, Oman too took their time: they received 16 within the first 5 overs, however their run fee went previous three once more solely on the finish of 19 overs. They ultimately fell quick by 76 runs.
The win confirmed Scotland’s progress to the Super Sixes, and Oman too certified regardless of the loss after Sri Lanka beat Ireland earlier within the day. However, they won’t be carrying any factors to the subsequent stage, with factors solely towards fellow qualifying groups from the identical group thought-about.
Scotland’s new-ball bowlers Chris Sole, Adrian Neill and McMullen himself have been spot on to begin with as they bowled tight, Test-match-like traces and lengths to by no means let Oman off the hook. But Oman’s batters had by no means actually tried to assault till then both, a lot in order that the primary indicators of intent from them got here solely after the primary drinks break.
But the truth that that they had a lot to do was all all the way down to McMullen and his captain Richie Berrington. They added 138 off 122 deliveries for the third wicket, throughout which Oman’s hopes of limiting Scotland to a manageable complete had all however evaporated regardless of the sedate begin. When Berrington fell for 60 within the thirty ninth over, the rating was 220 already.
The partnership was dominated by McMullen, who introduced up his maiden ODI hundred off 92 balls. He piled up runs all throughout – whether or not it meant swinging for the leg aspect or pumping boundaries down the bottom. The innings even included a cool, Suryakumar Yadav-inspired scoop for 4 over quick high-quality leg, trying which had McMullen lose his steadiness and fall on his again.
Scotland misplaced their final seven wickets for 77 in a rush for fast runs, 4 of which went to Bilal Khan, who ultimately completed with 5 for 55. But in return, Oman’s batters by no means actually backed up his efforts. The solely time when Oman having a say with the bat was throughout the seventh-wicket stand of 105 between Naseem Khushi and Shoaib Khan. They supplied some late leisure in a union that lasted for 83 deliveries, with Khushi cracking a half-century. He smashed 69 off 53 balls, thus solely delaying the inevitable.
As for Scotland, other than making it to the Super Sixes, that they had one other optimistic within the type of a five-wicket haul from legspinner Chris Greaves, who took all the final 5 Oman wickets to fall.