Watson powers Scotland chase

The day after being bowled out for 138 and crushed by 200 runs against Canada, Scotland bounced back and chased down 293 to beat Canada. The innings was underpinned by the majestic 117 not out off 116 balls produced by Ryan Watson, ensuring that Scotland did not buckle under the pressure of chasing a huge total, as was the case against Kenya.

Scotland’s bowlers, however, would have had a very different feeling 50 overs before the winning runs were hit to after, as Canada compiled their highest ever ODI score. After his opening partner fell to Warwickshire star Dougie Brown in the 4th ball of the match, Canada captain John Davison launched into a cavalier 32 ball innings of 41.

After Davison got out, caught by Lyons off White’s bowling, Ashish Bagai (64) was joined by Qaiser Ali (70) and the pair put on 60 in good time to push the score to 148-2 when Bagai was forced to retire with dehydration. He returned for the final two balls, however.

Desmond Chumney (28) supported Qaiser as Canada pushed the score past 200, but soon after both fell, with the wickets coming just 9 balls apart. From there, wicketkeeper Ashif Mulla (26) and Sunil Dhaniram (51*) provided a late charge. Dhaniram’s innings was particularly quick – 49 balls – despite only 14 of his runs coming in boundaries. When South African born Dewald Nel removed Mulla in the last over it didn’t matter much. Canada’s highest ODI score was secured.

Scotland’s reply began slowly, but when Watts (14) got out and was replaced by Watson, the runs began to flow. Along with Navdeep Poonia, who amassed 73 in 68 balls, Watson kicked the score up toward 150 and the runrate towards 6.

Poonia fell with the score on 148, but Watson continued pressing, unabated. He found aid in a string of middle order batsmen who scored at a decent rate and stuck around for partnerships of about 30, but not much longer. The regularity of the wickets looked like ensuring victory for Canada as Scotland ran out of batsmen and balls to chase the increasing required run rate. Watson pulled something out of the hat, however, hitting 2 sixes in the 45th over.

And it went down the the final 3 balls with two needed. Codrington captured the wicket of Blain. However, Lyons struck his first ball, the penultimate one of Scotland’s 50 overs, for 2 to seel the win.

Canada 292-5 (50 overs)
Qaiser Ali 70, Ashish Bagai 64
Dougie Brown 2-73, Dewald Nel 1-34

Scotland won by two wickets

Scotland 293-8 (50 overs)
Ryan Watson 117*, Navdeep Poonia 73
George Codrington 2-38, John Davison 2-46