The United States of America (USA) produced the biggest shock of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012 when it defeated Scotland by seven wickets in a Group B fixture at the ICC GCA Oval 2, Dubai Sports City, Dubai, on Tuesday.
Aditya Mishra during his knock of 62. Photo: ICC/ Ian Jacobs Photography
Chasing 162 for victory, the USA was provided with a flying 78-run start by Aditya Mishra and Steve Taylor in nine overs. In the last over, the USA needed seven runs for victory which they got in five balls for the loss of three wickets to record one of its biggest victories.
The defeat, however, didn’t stop Scotland from moving into the next stage when it beat Kenya by the smallest margins of +0.007 on a net run-rate which came into the equation after both the sides finished on eight points each. Had the USA achieved the target with two balls to spare, then Kenya would have gone through to the next round ahead of Canada.
After the completion of round matches, Afghanistan, Netherlands, Canada have moved on from Group A while Namibia, Ireland and Scotland have qualified from Group B.
Afghanistan and Namibia will lock horns in the 1st Qualifying Final on 24 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium while the remaining four sides will play in the Preliminary Round in a cross-over format.
The winner of the 1st Qualifying Final will qualify for the tournament proper in Sri Lanka to be staged from 18 September to 7 October while the losing finalist of the 1st Qualifying Final and winner of the Preliminary Round will square-off against each other on the morning of 24 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Usman Shuja had figures of 3-39. Photo: ICC/ Ian Jacobs Photography
The winner of the morning match will complete the 12-team line-up for the Sri Lanka tournament while the evening match will not only produce the tournament winner but will also decide which sides ends up in which group. The winning side will join Australia and the West Indies in Group B while the losing team will complete Group A which also includes defending champion England and 2007 winner India.
Reverting to the match, the USA captain Aditya Mishra, who was later adjudged man of the match, scored 62 off 54 balls with five fours and two sixes. He was the third batsman out on the first ball of the last over, while trying to steal a cheeky single. His innings included five fours and two sixes.
Taylor’s 40 came off 30 balls and included five fours and a six. Orlando Baker with 21 not out and Elmore Hutchinson (19) were the other contributors.
Earlier, Jan Stander hit 58 and Preston Mommsen scored 21 as Scotland reached 161 for eight. For the USA, Usman Shuja took three for 39.
A jubilant Mishra said: “It feels great to be Man of the Match. It’s great to be in Dubai. The team’s put in a lot of hard work throughout the tournament and I think the results show what our team is capable of.
“I feel pretty good, but when the team wins it feels double good.”
An unhappy Richard Berrington of Scotland said: “We were obviously absolutely delighted to hear that we have got through but we weren’t too happy with our performance, which meant it was quite nerve wracking. We wanted to make sure that we got straight through, but obviously it didn’t happen that way, and now we have a big game against the Netherlands.”
Scores in brief
USA beats Scotland by seven wickets at ICC GCA Oval 2, Dubai Sports City
Scotland 161-8, 20 overs (Jan Stander 58, Preston Mommsen 21; Usman Shuja 3-39)
USA 162-3, 19.5 overs (Aditya Mishra 62, Steven Taylor 40, Orlando Baker 21 not out)
Man of the match Aditya Mishra