Antigua: Brandon McMullen’s 61 not out helped Scotland to a seven-wicket win against Oman in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, here.
Oman reached 150/7 in their innings, thanks in large part to Pratik Athavale’s 54 off 40 balls, with five fours and two sixes to his credit.
Richie Berrington’s side made 153/3 within 14 overs, meaning they still have hope of reaching the Super Eights after a win against Namibia and an abandoned match against England in their two previous matches.
Earlier, Oman won the toss and chose to bat.
Athavale played a fine innings, coming in at the top of the order and leading by example. George Munsey will have been kicking himself as he had a brilliant chance to remove him before reaching his half-century – but dropped him over the rope for six instead of sending him on his way.
Naseem Khushi had been first to fall, in the third over, attempting to move across his crease but hitting a Chris Sole ball directly to Mark Watt.
Aqib Ilyas went for 16, lbw off Safyaan Sharif, then Zeeshan Maqsood made 3 before edging Watt to Cross, an ICC report said.
There was some controversy in the ninth over as Watt thought he had bowled Khalid Kail – but the umpire signalled a dead ball.
Still, he got a measure of revenge in the following ball, whipping off the stumps with Kail well out of his crease to leave Oman on 71/4.
Ayaan Khan, the next man in, put together a good partnership with Athavale, 43 runs from 41 balls, before the opener finally fell, sending a poor shot off Chris Greaves into the hands of Brandon McMullen.
And Mehran Khan put in a decent cameo of 13 off 10 balls – including two fours – before edging behind to Cross off Sharif.
Rafiullah went without troubling the scorer, caught Sharif off Wheal, but Ayaan wrapped up the innings with a superb last over, including two more boundaries, and taking Oman to a solid score of 150/7 at the close.
Munsey gets Scotland off to strong start
Scotland were never seriously troubled in their response, despite losing Michael Jones for 16 in the third over.
Fellow opener George Munsey got things started with 41 off 20 balls, and when McMullen joined him at the crease, the runs began to flow.
By the time Shakeel Ahmed caught Munset off Mehran in the eighth over, Scotland were 86/2 and over halfway to their target.
Captain Berrington added 13 and wicketkeeper Cross an unbeaten 15 as McMullen led the way over the line.
