West Indies wanted a win in opposition to the Scots to maintain their slim qualification hopes alive however had been bowled out for 181. Driving on Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen knocks, Scotland chased down the goal with 6.three overs to spare.
The champions of 1975 and 1979 editions, that is the primary time within the 48 years of event historical past that West Indies will not characteristic among the many high 10 groups in restricted overs cricket. It was additionally Scotland’s first-ever win over the Caribbean aspect within the ODIs.
As It Occurred
On Saturday, the West Indies as soon as once more produced a dismal present with the bat — 181 all-out in 43.5 overs — and Scotland confirmed no qualms in knocking off the goal to win with seven wickets in hand and pile up additional ignominy on the two-time world champions.
Matthew Cross (74 not out off 107 balls) anchored the chase completely and it at all times appeared one staff would win and that actually wasn’t the West Indies.
With two extra matches left, even when West Indies win, they’ll attain as much as 4 factors whereas Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have already got six factors of their three video games.
Scotland with this win are on 4 factors and would reckon that an upset might help them sneak into the tournament-proper.
It seems to be the ultimate nail within the coffin for a cricket staff that has been on a terminal decline for the previous 20 years.
Whereas they gained two T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, the efficiency in two conventional codecs — Assessments and ODIs have spiralled southwards.
Paradoxically, West Indies had been compelled to play the qualifier earlier than the 2019 World Cup additionally however finally managed to complete in high two together with Afghanistan to avoid wasting themselves from embarrassment.
However a staff that had Nicholas Pooran, a Rs 16 crore IPL recruit, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hossein, all who had been a part of this version’s IPL, in its ranks, that is actually the bottom ebb.
Maybe the efficiency is symptomatic of instances which could be very totally different from the 1970s when a number of the wold class cricketers from Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Antigua, Trinidad & Tobago got here collectively and had been the flag-bearers of ‘Black Caribbean Group’ which had been below oppression for the longest time.
The good documentary ‘Hearth in Babylon’ confirmed what West Indies cricket meant, it wasn’t simply aptitude, enjoyable and frolic but additionally a accountability in direction of neighborhood.
It confirmed how the staff got here collectively after England captain Tony Greig commented earlier than the 1976 sequence that he would make them ‘grovel’, a derogatory time period used for ‘Black Group’ referring to slavery.
Michael Holding spit fireplace on the Oval and Viv Richards scored a close to triple hundred.
Their model of cricket helped them change into world beaters in restricted overs cricket, first 60 overs after which 50 overs as most of their high gamers performed in county or league cricket in England.
However name it an indication of instances, the hearth has extinguished and in final decade has seen the emergence of highly-skilled T20 mercenaries or Gun for Rent as one can check with them, who have not precisely been bothered in regards to the nationwide cricket staff’s profit.
Maybe the idea of a number of nations, taking part in below one flag is flawed in as we speak’s day and age.
What has additionally adversely contributed is the riches that accompanies T20 cricket caravan wherever it units its base. The leagues have made it nearly inconceivable to have a top quality West Indies staff that’s happy with sporting the enduring maroon jersey.
Name it an irony that in the course of the event in Zimbabwe, the person who donned coach’s hat was none aside from final world trophy successful skipper Darren Sammy,whose coronary heart nonetheless bleeds for the West Indies.
Within the commentary field was Carlos Brathwaite, who hit these 4 unbelievable sixes on that fateful evening in Kolkata, seven seasons again to win the 2016 T20 World Cup for the Caribbean aspect.
The Richards, the Lloyds, the Holdings, the Roberts, the Garners, their legacy lay in tatters, scattered throughout the plush inexperienced turf of Harare Sports activities Membership floor on July 1.
The Kieron Pollards, Dwayne Bravos, Andre Russells, Sunil Narines have again and again refused to play for the West Indies as worldwide cricket could not have secured a future that they aspired for his or her households. So West Indies cricket lived in a comatose state.
On Saturday, Scotland simply eliminated the ‘affected person’ from ventilator.
West Indies cricket is lifeless. Lengthy Stay West Indies cricket.
(With inputs from PTI)
