CALUM MacLeod smashed a brilliant half-century as Scotland boosted their World Cup qualification hopes with a thumping eight-wicket win over Nepal yesterday.
The Scots went into the clash at Titwood, Glasgow, looking for revenge after a shock loss to the same opponents four days earlier.
And, after dismissing Nepal for just 128, MacLeod put the issue beyond doubt with a brilliant 64 from only 29 deliveries as the Saltires raced to victory in nineteen overs.
Skipper Richie Berrington said: “It was an outstanding knock from Calum. Kyle had shown intent from the outset and Calum took things forward and showed the class he has and all his scoring options.
“He put the pressure firmly on their bowlers.”
Chasing such a modest target, Kyle Coetzer showed his attacking intent by crunching a couple of boundaries through the offside in the first over.
Despite the loss of Chris McBride, the former skipper continued to take the attack to the bowlers with a series of punishing shots.
But he was upstaged and overtaken by MacLeod who at one stage sent four consecutive sweeps to the boundary – two clearing the ropes.
He hit another maximum to go with ten fours before departing with victory already assured.
Coetzer finished unbeaten on 44 from 52 balls with seven boundaries.
Earlier Scotland produced a dominant display in the field to dismiss their rivals for just 128 in 35.5 overs.
Tight new-ball bowling from Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt kept runs at a premium and Kushal Burtel eventually lost patience and chipped a simple catch to McBride to give Watt the first of his three wickets.
Gavin Main joined the attack to remove Dev Khanal before Nepal enjoyed a mini-recovery to reach 64-2.
However, the Scots hit back in devastating style to claim six wickets for just 35 runs.
Watt struck again to have Nepal’s top scorer Aasif Sheikh caught behind by Matthew Cross for 40 before McBride claimed his first ODI wicket when MacLeod took the first of his four catches to dismiss Rohit Praudel.
The procession continued with Hamza Tahir striking twice and Watt again while Main produced a brute of a delivery to shatter the stumps of Karan KC as Nepal reeled on 99-8.
Skipper Sandeep Lamichhane whacked 22 before being last man out as Tahir claimed 4-26 to trump fellow left-arm spinner Watt’s 3-19.
Berrington added: “Hamza has had a great series, often bowling in the powerplay, and also in the middle overs. He has shown great versatility and bowled in a great partnership with Mark today.
“Taking wickets in the middle overs was key.”
Scotland, second in the seven-team World Cup League 2 table from which three qualify for the global showpiece in India, are ten points behind leaders Oman but with twelve games in hand. They resume their campaign against UAE and USA in Aberdeen next month.
