Scotland’s World Cup hopes were dashed in heart-breaking fashion yesterday as a Zimbabwean monsoon and a shocking umpiring decision denied them the chance to complete an historic win against the West Indies in Harare.
Chasing 199 for victory, the Scots were handily placed on 125 for five – but just five runs behind the DLS Par score – when the heavens opened and ruled out any further play.
With George Munsey going well on 32 not out and Michael Leask (14no) the Scots were confident of completing the job in the 14.4 overs that remained.
Indeed, they might well have been ahead of the required rate had Richie Berrington not been the victim of a shocking leg before wicket verdict.
Instead, they were condemned to a devastating first defeat of the World Cup Qualifying tournament and dejected skipper Kyle Coetzer said: “A couple of big decisions in the last two games have gone against us. There was another one today and it’s proved very costly.
“There is a bit of emotion in the dressing room after all the hard work we have put in and to go out like this. I’m proud of how we’ve gone in the tournament – we have played some excellent cricket and it’s very hard for the guys to take.”
Scotland’s run-chase suffered an early blow when in-form Coetzer miscued a delivery from Kemar Roach in the third over to be caught at backward point for two runs.
Worse followed eight balls later when Matthew Cross deflected a delivery from Jason Holder on to his stumps.
Youngster Michael Jones, making his first appearance of the tournament, played a couple of attractive shots but was unable to control a hook as Roach claimed his second to have the Scots wobbling on 25 for three.
Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington managed to add 42 runs for the fourth wicket to re- kindle Scottish hopes before MacLeod offered a return catch to Ashley Nurse and departed for 21.
It took the arrival of Munsey to increase the strike-rate, the left-hander dominating a partnership of 48 with Berrington.
Munsey was dropped early but took advantage by three times reverse-sweeping Nurse for boundaries as Scotland brought the target below 100.
But the Windies had a huge slice of luck when Berrington, having made a patient 33, was the victim of an appalling umpiring decision – adjudged lbw to a ball that was missing leg stump.
Leask joined Munsey as the storm clouds gathered but the pair were unable to get their team ahead of the required rate before torrential rain quickly flooded the ground.