*OMAN VS SCOTLAND MATCH 16 PREVIEW- ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS 2023*
*THE BUILD UP:*
No one expected Scotland to go out there and win back to back but here they are, having defeated both Ireland and UAE and on the cusp of getting another win to solidy their chances in this tournament. Skipper Berrington led from the front the other day and would feel like this is another opportunity that needs to be capitalised given Oman are on the other end of the table. A 127 from him lifted the hopes of the entire team as the Scotts ended up with a big total of 282 for the loss of 8 wickets against Oman. In fact, the batting resources of Scotland have snatched victory from the oppositions in both the games and in different mannerisms, once having chased a big total against a more than decent bowling group in Ireland and second when they were given the task of setting up a score on the board.
Oman, on the other hand, faltered bigtime last time they played a game at the Qualifiers, bullied by Srilanka recording the lowest score of the tournament and failing to pick even a single Lankan wicket. It was a day to forget yet a game to remember for the Oman players. They will look to take loads of learning from it in order to rise from this disasterclass which happened to them a few days ago. Their win vs UAE however was a clinical one and something that they’d be looking to repeat against this European opposition.
*OMAN PROBABLE XI:*
Jatinder Singh, Kashyap Prajapati, Shoaib Khan, Ayaan Khan, Zeeshan Maqsood(C), Aqib Ilyas, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi(wk), Bilal Khan, Fayyaz Butt, Jay Odedra
Jay Odedra, who scalped three wickets in the game against UAE which will be happy man come tomorrow as the match is scheduled to take place in Bulawayo. Despite going wicketless in the three overs he bowled vs the Srilankan batters, he’s coming off sone good form with his display vs UAE and could pose trouble against the Scotts who are not known to be specialised players of spin anyway. The surface is ready made for spinners to wreck havoc and Jay may just have a field day.
Batting at 6, Ayaan Khan showed his potential with the bat. Generally known to be a lower order batter and mostly a bowler, this knock of 41 runs where all others were dismissed cheaply vs SRI will be looked at closely as it gives Oman an extra batting option who can make the fielders run towards the backend. Oman will be a desperate search for some runs from their top order which hasn’t showed a lot of promise through the course of this tournament- specially their openers.
*SCOTLAND PROBABLE XI:*
MH Cross(wk), Chris McBride, McMullen, Berrington(c), Tomas Mackintosh, MA Leask, Jack Jarvis, CN Greaves, MRJ Watt, SM Sharif, CB Sole
Eagerly waiting to watch the troika of Mark Watt-Sharif-Chris Sole bowl to Oman. They are coming off some good match time where they were succesful in deceiving the opposition batters and have the backing of the team coming off some good form as well. On their day, they are not only economical but extremely threatening as well and if tomorrow is that day, Oman are in for some trouble.
Mark Watt picked a sole wicket last game but like always, kept the required run rate in check, giving away runs at under 3 an over and trapping Muhammad Waseem, UAE’s most important batter back to the pavilion. It doesn’t get said very often but Watt most certainly holds the key for the Scotts and the entire bowling revolves around his slow bowling type. Another chance for us to witness this come tomorrow.
The keeper batter Matthew Cross is under the scanner because of twin failures that can come and haunt the Scotts back. He has done a fair job with the gloves on but has failed to replicate that sort of a success with the bat in hand, hence making himself look like a weak link specially in the opening and on the batting front. He has contested in 84 ODIs which is a fair number and would look to make it count starting from tomorrow so that the bulk of the batting lifting doesn’t rest on a few shoulders.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*
*FOR OMAN:*
Highest run getter- Shoaib Khan/Zeeshan Maqsood
Highest wicket taker- Ayaan Khan/Jay Odedra
*FOR SCOTLAND:*
Highest run getter- Richie Berrington/Brandon Mcmullen
Highest wicket taker- Chris Sole/Mark Watt
*FOR THIS GAME:*
A close game expected with Scotland taking the winning honours