ICC World Cup Qualifier: Scotland and Ireland begin with wins
Top two teams in tournament qualify for 2019 World Cup in England
Sunday 4 March 2018 16:59, UK
Calum MacLeod smashed 157 not out as Scotland began their World Cup Qualifier campaign with a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in Bulawayo.
The 29-year-old struck 23 fours and a six - and put on a Scotland one-day record 208 with Richie Berrington (67) for the third wicket - as his team chased down Afghanistan's 255 all out with 16 balls remaining. SCORECARD
Rashid Khan, the top-ranked bowler in ODI cricket, was largely negated - Berrington the leg-spinner's only wicket as his nine overs went for 68 runs.
Berrington (3-42) also impressed for Scotland with the ball, sharing six wickets with Brad Wheal (3-36) as Group B rivals Afghanistan were dismissed in 49.4 overs.
Mohammad Nabi top scored for Afghanistan with 92, sharing a stand of 149 with Najibullah Zadran (67), before Rashid's men lost their final six wickets for 35 runs.
Ireland began their campaign with a 93-run, DLS success over Netherlands - Ireland hitting 268-7, thanks chiefly to Andrew Balbirnie (68), and then skittling their opponents for 149 after a rain delay. SCORECARD
Netherlands were set a revised target of 243 from 41 overs in Harare but did not get close, as Tim Murtagh scooped three wickets and Boyd Rankin, Kevin O'Brien and Barry McCarthy bagged two apiece.
Hosts Zimbabwe hammered Nepal by 116 runs in Bulawayo - Sikandar Raza (123 off 66) hitting a 59-ball ton and Brendan Taylor scoring 100 from 91 deliveries as Zimbabwe racked up 380-6, before Raza's three wickets helped keep Nepal to 264-8. SCORECARD
Plus, UAE got the better of Papua New Guinea in a rain-affected match in Harare, winning by 56 runs on DLS - captain Rohan Mustafa scored 95 for UAE in their total of 221, while Mohammad Naveed claimed 5-28 as Papua New Guinea folded to 113 all out. SCORECARD
The top two sides in the 10-team qualifier will advance to the 2019 World Cup, alongside hosts England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Windies begin their campaign on Tuesday against the UAE - Ireland and Scotland are in action on the same day against Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong respectively, while Zimbabwe will battle Afghanistan,
GROUP A
Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, United Arab Emirates, Windies
GROUP B
Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Scotland, Zimbabwe
