Dubai: India held tight their loosing grip in the ICC World Cup 2021 sealing a 8 wicket victory over Scotland in Super 12, Group 2 in Dubai Friday. The victory saw India further improve their net run rate although still waiting for the result of the Afghanistan-New Zealand game next Sunday.
Skipper Virat Kohli,on his 33rd birthday didn’t hesitate to ask the Scottish team to bat first winning the toss for the first time in his tournament. The bowlers proved their captain’s decision right on the money wrapping Scotland up for a mere 86.
Jasprit Bumrah initiated the attacking sending Scottish skipper Kyle Coetzer home in the third over. George Munsey(24), the top scorer for Scotland did add early flourish but fell to Mohammad Shami. Apart from Munsey and Michael Leask(21) none of the batters went into the 20’s
Ravindra Jadeja(3/15) topped the bowling charts for Men in Blue” providing early breakthroughs before Shami(3/15) wrapped up the tail in his second spell handing India an opportunity to chase a mere total.
India had to chase the score in 8.5 overs to better New Zealand’s net run rate while making it to the to finish in 7.2 overs would make their numbers better than Afghanistan and they did it with ease getting the target in 6.4 overs.
The opening duo of Rohit Sharma(30) and KL Rahul did just the same going after the bowlers right from the start propelling the innings past 50 run mark in just 4 overs before the former fell to Bradley wheal. Rahul on the other hand blown the scottish the away hammering a 18 ball half-century before getting dismissed on the very next ball although his job was done already for India. Suryakumar Yadav sealed the victory with huge straight six over long on. The “Men in Blue” with a net run rate of +1.62 of will look forward and hope Afghanistan beat New Zealand on Sunday while in the same evening India register a victory over Namibia.
Brief Scores: India 89/ 2 in 6.4 overs( KL Rahul 50,Rohit Sharma 30 ) beat Scotland 86 all-out in 17.4 over (George Munsey 24, Michael Leask 21; Ravindra Jadeja 3/15, Mohammed Shami 3/15) by 8 wickets.
