Scotland and Ireland
Scotland defeated Ireland at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Wednesday, pulling off a remarkable comeback victory after falling to 152 for 7 in a chase of 287. With the bat, Michael Leask was the hero, scoring an unbroken 91 runs off just 61 balls, including the winning runs off the very last ball of the game.
Scotland had two wickets in hand and needed 8 runs going into the final over. Leask gave them a head start with a boundary off the opening ball, helped by a Harry Tector misfield. Safyaan Sharif was struck by Mark Adair’s third ball, allowing Ireland to retake the lead. He then bowled a dot and only conceded a single, giving Leask two runs to make off of one. What came next was a lucky break for Scotland as a thick inside edge screamed past the stumps, sparking wild celebrations in their camp and a despondent look in Ireland’s after their qualifying chances were hanging by a thread after losing two out of their first two games.
When Leask and Mark Watt united in the center, the tide began to turn for Scotland. For the eighth wicket, the pair needed just 67 balls to contribute 82 runs. Scotland required 54 from 29 balls when George Dockrell, who had just taken his 100th ODI wicket, ended that stand by stumping Watt off a wide. Even yet, Leask rose to the challenge, which was still quite difficult. In the 47th over, when Josh Little scored 22 runs, he erupted. Scotland won their first game of the season after he went on to craft one of the great comebacks.
Earlier, Ireland was given the chance to bat and needed a significant comeback after being reduced to 70 for 5. In the first few overs, right-arm pacer Brandon McMullen plowed through them, dismissing Harry Tector for only six runs and golden ducking both Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirinie. Curtis Campher’s superb hundred was necessary to start Ireland’s comeback, and he received solid assistance from Dockrell in a sixth-wicket stand that was worth 136 runs. Ireland achieved a decent 286 despite McMullen returning to finish a five-for. When Ireland’s bowlers combined to eliminate a big portion of Scotland’s squad, that total appeared to be quite strong. But Leask eventually managed to take them out.
UAE vs. Oman
By defeating UAE by five wickets in Bulawayo, Oman made it two victories in a row, continuing their outstanding start to the competition. With four overs remaining and a margin of victory of five wickets in their pursuit of 228.
With two wickets in the first four overs after choosing to bowl first, the Oman bowlers kept the UAE at bay right away. A third-wicket stand of 87 runs between Vriitya Arvind and Rameez Shahzad allowed UAE to stabilize their innings, but they were unable to score quickly, needing 127 balls. Oman continued to erode the wickets after that partnership was broken. UAE only managed to reach 227 thanks to a quickfire 58 lower down from Aayan Khan.
Oman’s own chase didn’t get off to the best of beginnings as they lost both of their openers early on. However, with 50s from Aqib Ilyas, Shoaib Khan, and Mohammad Nadeem, as well as a quick 41 from Ayaan Khan, they were comfortably guided home.