Bright start fades when Super 12 spot within reach - Scotland tournament review

T20 World Cup Tuesday 25 October Tue 25 October

A convincing victory over the top-ranked team in the group was the ideal start for Scotland as they targeted a repeat of their run to the Super 12 stage last year, but the line-up ultimately lacked the T20I experience and firepower to prevent an early exit.

Most runs – George Munsey (121)

Most wickets – Mark Watt (5)

What went right

Scotland stunned the West Indies in an accomplished 42-run triumph that also gave their net run-rate an early boost.

Opener George Munsey ensured Scotland made a strong start to the tournament as he carried the bat against the two-time champions and finished with 66* from 53 balls.

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Munsey impressed again with 54 against Zimbabwe in their winner-takes-all clash to be the third-highest run-scorer in the First Round. Fellow opener Michael Jones was next best overall with a total of 110 runs.

Mark Watt was the pick of the Scotland bowlers almost as soon as he took the new ball against the West Indies and went on to finish with 3/12 off four overs.

The left-arm spinner also took a wicket against both Ireland and Zimbabwe, while going at only 5.83 runs an over across the three matches and could yet become a white-ball weapon.

What went wrong

Scotland had one foot in the Super 12 stage when they scored 176 in the first innings of their second match off the back of Jones’ 86 runs, and then had Ireland on the ropes at 61/4.

But a lack of threatening bowling options and experience in high-stakes moments was exposed as Ireland then put together an unbeaten 119-run stand to snatch the two points.

With a Super 12 spot on the line against Zimbabwe, Munsey was the only batter able to confidently take the attack to their quicks as Scotland limped to 132/6 which was chased down with relative ease.

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What does the future hold?

Scotland mostly have a settled and experienced first XI but the only other T20Is they played since the last T20 World Cup were in two losses to New Zealand in July.

Adding more T20Is to the schedule should prepare the team to better handle the pressures that come with being on the biggest stage.

While the middle order and pacers arguably underperformed in Australia, Scotland have a solid foundation to build on and next time target a second Super 12 appearance at a T20 World Cup.

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