Scotland stun former champions West Indies at T20 World Cup

George Munsey’s unbeaten 66 off 53 balls underpinned Scotland’s 160 for five after they lost the toss, with important cameos from Calum MacLeod (23 off 14) and Chris Greaves (16 not out off 11).

The Windies raced to 53 for one but Evin Lewis was out from the penultimate ball of the powerplay, the start of a dramatic collapse that saw the 2012 and 2016 winners lose seven wickets for 26 runs in 45 deliveries.

It was the decisive moment in both sides’ opening Group B encounter in this first round, with Mark Watt, so often crucial to Scotland’s success, shining as the Windies were rolled for 118 in 18.3 overs.

The slow left-armer was clever with his variations and finished with three for 12 from his four overs to boost Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the Super 12s stage for a second successive year.

Twelve months ago they overcame Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and tournament co-hosts Oman to top their preliminary group, the first time they had gone past the first round at any World Cup event.

While the Windies are without the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard in Australia, they were still fancied in a group also containing Ireland and Zimbabwe.

But chilly conditions at the Bellerive Oval seemed to play into Scotland’s hands and the Windies must now win their last two group games to give themselves the best chance of avoiding an ignominious exit.

Scotland, who at 15th in the world are ranked eight places below the Windies in T20s, started strongly as Munsey and Michael Jones peppered the rope to bring up a 50-run opening stand after five overs.

The Windies were guilty of bowling too full but a 45-minute rain delay gave them a chance to reset, with Jason Holder getting Jones to inside edge a drive on to his stumps for 20 off 17 balls.

Holder also struck in his next over when Matthew Cross miscued a pull and although Scotland captain Richie Berrington struck Akeal Hosein for a mighty leg-side six, it was a rare boundary in the middle stages.

With Munsey struggling to time the ball but anchoring the innings, MacLeod brought some much-needed intent with back-to-back fours off Obed McCoy before driving to short cover off Odean Smith.

Munsey, who was ably supported by Greaves towards the end of Scotland’s innings, brought up a 43-ball fifty and then hammered three fours off Smith in a final over which yielded 15 runs.

Windies opener Kyle Mayers bludgeoned three fours and a six and contributed all 20 of his side’s runs before thumping to the leg-side sweeper, although Lewis and Brandon King seemed to settle quickly.

But after Lewis was also out to a catch in the deep for 14 and Watt struck with his fourth ball, knocking back King’s off-stump when he was on 17, the Windies lost wickets at regular intervals.

Michael Leask (two for 15 from four overs) bowled captain Nicholas Pooran before Rovman Powell hammered the off-spinner to the long-on fielder to leave the Windies teetering on 69 for five just after halfway.

Holder, who had earlier taken two for 14 from three overs, tried to rally the two-time winners but was last man out as the second day of this tournament produced another major shock – 24 hours after Namibia’s surprise Group A win over Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka.

Raza specials topples Ireland

Ireland’s top order crumbled as they kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a 31-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe made 174 for seven after being sent in at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, a stiff total that proved beyond the boys in green as they finished on 143 for nine at the end of their innings.

Having needed a strong start to give themselves a chance, Ireland crashed to 22 for four and effectively drifted to rank outsiders before the end of the powerplay.

Josh Little had earlier continued his impressive year, taking three for 24, while there were two wickets apiece for Mark Adair and Simi Singh. But nobody could get to grips with player of the match Sikandar Raza, who hit five sixes and five fours in his decisive knock of 82.

The response lacked anything as substantial as that, with three scores of 20-plus but nothing more than Curtis Campher’s steady 27.

The evening began well for Ireland, who opted to bowl first and saw Little open their tournament tally with his second delivery as Regis Chakabva was caught behind. The left-armer, who proved a hit with Manchester Originals in The Hundred this summer, also removed Wessly Madhevere with the new ball.

Singh continued the good work by nipping out veteran duo Sean Williams and Craig Ervine to leave the score at 79 for four at the 10-over mark. Raza turned the equation in Zimbabwe’s favour as they piled on a further 95 runs in the second half of the innings, racing to his half-century in 26 balls.

Ireland mirrored their opponents in losing a wicket from their second ball, with big-hitting Paul Stirling cleaned up by Richard Ngarava, who picked off Lorcan Tucker in his next over. Captain Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector both fell cheaply to Blessing Muzarabani, leaving too much for their team-mates to do.

Campher, George Dockrell (24) and Gareth Delany (24) made some inroads but the asking rate continued to climb and regular wickets stalled the momentum as the game played out to its inevitable conclusion.