Taylor helps Scotland qualify for ICC World T20
Sat 18 Jul 2015
Rob Taylor and Scotland made it through to the ICC World T20 in India next year after an absorbing final day of Group B action.
With Oman, Afghanistan and Kenya on seven points, and Scotland and Netherlands on six, Scotland realistically needed to beat Oman at Edinburgh to ensure they had a chance of reaching the top four.
There was the possibility of losing and sneaking through on net run rate had Netherlands lost but that thought did not cross Scotland’s minds as they beat the morning leaders by 23 runs.
Remarkably, the victory also saw them leapfrog the three sides above them and by finishing first, Scotland automatically qualified for the major tournament.
Elsewhere Kenya lost to Netherlands, and Afghanistan saw their game against Canada washed out. Scotland had a better net run rate than Netherlands and Afghanistan, who go through to the qualifying play-offs.
Oman took the final play-off spot on net run rate from Kenya, and they will have a chance to progress to India when they meet one of the losers from the qualifying play-offs.
Scotland posted 173-5 with Northamptonshire’s Kyle Coetzer top-scoring with 63 from 38 balls at the top of the order while Taylor scored five not out towards the end of the innings.
Taylor then shone with four overs for just 16 as Oman ended their pursuit on 150-7. Alasdair Evans was also economical in taking 2-19 from four overs while Safyaan Sharif collected three wickets at a cost of 27 from his allocation.
