Scotland Shatter West Indies' World Cup Dreams

Scotland convincingly defeated West Indies by seven wickets in a crucial match that ended West Indies' hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. Scotland's victory marked their first ODI win against West Indies and eliminated the two-time champions from the tournament.

In the previous World Cup, West Indies secured their place controversially with the help of umpiring decisions and rain interruptions, denying Scotland a spot. However, this time, luck was not on their side as Scotland emerged victorious.

The absence of West Indies in the upcoming 13th edition of the ODI World Cup will be notable since they were the winners of the first two tournaments and reached the final in 1983.

Scotland is now a strong contender for one of the two remaining World Cup spots at the Qualifiers, with four points. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, who lead the Super Six stage, have six points each. Allrounder Brandon McMullen played a crucial role for Scotland, taking three wickets and scoring a half-century.

Knowing that a loss would eliminate them due to the Qualifier format, West Indies faced immense pressure. Scotland captain Richie Berrington's decision to bowl first in challenging conditions paid off as McMullen dismissed the top three West Indies batsmen within six overs.

Despite a partnership between Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, West Indies struggled to build momentum. They were eventually bowled out for 181 in the 44th over, with McMullen finishing with match-winning figures of 3 for 32.

In their chase, Scotland lost an early wicket but McMullen and Matthew Cross stabilized the innings. They carefully navigated the new-ball threat and built a partnership of 125 runs. McMullen's aggressive batting and Cross's steady contribution ensured Scotland's victory in the 44th over.

This defeat adds to West Indies' recent struggles in white-ball cricket. After their early exit from the T20 World Cup last year, they made significant changes to their coaching staff and captaincy. However, their campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers has been disappointing, with defeats to Zimbabwe, Netherlands, and now Scotland, ending their chances of qualifying for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.