RAMPANT ROBERTSON LEADS SCOTLAND TO TOP OF CWCL2

A stunning six-wicket haul on debut from Lyle Robertson and a blistering century by Richie Berrington led Scotland to a comprehensive 170 run win over Canada in their final ICC Cricket World Cup League fixture.

 

Captain Berrington smashed 120 from just 103 deliveries, with fifteen fours and four sixes, as Scotland racked up 347-7 in their allotted overs. Berrington was well supported by Brandon McMullen (64) with whom he shared a partnership of 140, while Matthew Cross (51) and Michael Jones (41) also cashed in on a terrific day for batting at Forfarshire.

 

 

Canada's reply never got going, as they fell well behind the required run rate early on, before Falkland spinner Robertson ripped through the batting order with 6-52, the fourth best ODI men's bowling figures on debut in history, as Canada were bowled out for 177.

 

The win sends Scotland top of the ICC CWCL2 table on 45 points, two points ahead of USA, who have four matches in hand as the competition nears its conclusion. The top four sides in the table qualify for next year's ICC World Cup Qualifier, with USA, Scotland and Netherlands having already confirmed their places at the event.

 

Robertson was awarded his first cap in a ceremony before play began on a beautiful Broughty Ferry morning, but he had to wait to make an impact as captain Berrington won the toss and chose to bat first. It was the correct decision as the Scots put Canada's bowlers to the sword, despite losing Michael English and Fin McCreath cheaply early on.

 

 

Berrington and McMullen were utterly dominant, dispatching the bowlers for seven maximums between them. McMullen hit straight and true as is his wont, while Berrington was destructive over mid-wicket, depositing three sixes into the neighbouring Fintry Primary School playground.

 

When they departed, Jones and Cross continued the momentum, with the wicketkeeper reaching a second consecutive half century after his match-winning innings against UAE on Sunday. Further gloss came from Jack Jarvis, with 30 from just fifteen deliveries, as Canada wilted in the sunshine.

 

 

Mark Watt opened the bowling and was soon in the wickets, as Berrington caught the dangerous Aaron Johnson for 6. Safyaan Sharif then bounced out Yuvraj Samra as Canada plummeted behind the required rate, struggling to push scoring beyond four an over. 

 

Pargat Singh was next to fall, this time to Jarvis for 42, before Robertson celebrated his first international wicket as Harsh Thaker holed out to Olly Davidson in the deep. Jarvis then picked up his second wicket, to leave Canada rocking at 117-5 at the halfway stage.

 

Robertson was bowled non-stop from the pavilion end and his persistence in tossing the ball up led to two more wickets in the middle overs, before he demolished the tail with three wickets in the final over to grab the Player of the Match award from his captain.