Canada suffers fourth straight loss, eliminated in T20 cricket qualifier

Scotland secured their place in next year’s ICC World Twenty20 after beating Oman in their final qualifier and then getting the result they needed from the match between Netherlands and Kenya.

That win put Scotland to the top of Group B and in possession of the sole automatic qualification place, but they could still have been replaced by either Kenya or Holland depending on the result between those two later on across town at Myreside.

The top six sides in the 14-team tournament will join the ICC’s 10 full members for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which runs March 11 to April 3.

The hosts were set 136 to win after a 48-run ninth-wicket partnership from Navneet Dhaliwal, with 34, and Junaid Siddiqui, who scored 28 off 16, gave the Canadians a decent total to defend.

Scotland (3-2-0) reached the victory target in the 15th over with opener Kyle Coetzer 51 not out when the Scots finished at 139 for two.

Coetzer struck nine fours and a six to help put on 60 for the opening wicket with Calum MacLeod (20). Captain Preston Mommsen (32 not out), Richie Berrington (26) and Matthew Cross (20) also made useful contributions for the hosts.

Afterwards, man of the match Coetzer was pleased with the performance and highlighted the opportunities that come with the congested nature of Group B. From a personal point of view, it’s nice to contribute.

“Most importantly we won the game and won it at a good rate to give ourselves every chance as the tournament goes on”, he reflected later.

“The guys at the top of the batting order have had the confidence to do that because we know there is plenty of good batters lower down the order should they be required”. We’ll look at them in depth. That being the case, making sure not only of victory but also of a quick one was clearly something Coetzer and his batting partners were bearing in mind.

“In past qualifying competitions run rate has hurt us so this time around we have tried to make sure that we have taken care of that by scoring quickly”.

Tomorrow, the action in Group A moves from Belfast and Bready to Dublin with Malahide taking over from the Grange in Edinburgh as the television venue for the remainder of the tournament.