George Munsey’s unbeaten half-century and some inspired bowling helped Scotland thrash two-time Twenty20 World Cup champions West Indies by 42 runs in another big upset at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Hobart on Monday.
The shock result comes a day after Namibia hammered Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Australia.
T20 World Cup: Reactions to Namibia’s stunning win against Sri Lanka – ‘Format of the underdog’
Munsey’s 53-ball 66 laced with nine boundaries steered Scotland to 160-5 after being put in to bat first in the opening-round match in Hobart.
Left-arm spinner Mark Watt led the bowling charge to bundle out West Indies, winners of the title in 2012 and 2016, for 118 in 18.3 overs.
Scotland are on course for a second straight Super 12 place after achieving the feat last year.
“Obviously it is a special win for us. Took a lot of work and has given us belief,” said Scotland skipper Richie Berrington.
“We haven’t had as many T20 cricket as we would have liked but have played a lot of 50-overs cricket. It was about transferring those skills to the short form.”
Munsey, a left-handed batsman, and Michael Jones got Scotland off to a flier as they raced to 52 in 5.3 overs when rain interrupted play.
Munsey hit a string of boundaries including three straight fours off Alzarri Joseph, whose first over at a T20 World Cup cost 15 runs.
The 45-minute rain break seemed to hit the batting momentum as Jason Holder bowled Jones for 20 soon after play resumed and then sent back Matthew Cross for three in his next over.
Munsey, named man of the match, stood firm and attempted to rebuild with Berrington, who got a good start but fell on 16 off Joseph.
Munsey, playing his 54th T20 for Scotland, reached his first T20 World Cup fifty after a cameo by Calum MacLeod, who smashed 23 off 14.
Munsey finished with a flourish as he hit three fours in a 15-run 20th over from Odean Smith.
‘Tough loss’
West Indies now have no margin for further error if they are to progress to the Super 12 stage.
“Tough loss for us, obviously disappointed,” said skipper Nicholas Pooran.
“We have to work hard and win two games. We have to take accountability and responsibility.”
Kyle Mayers started aggressively in the West Indies reply with three boundaries, but mistimed a hit to be caught out by Munsey off pace bowler Josh Davey. He made 20.
Evin Lewis and Brandon King hit back with a flurry of boundaries in their attempt to get quick runs in the first six overs of powerplay – when only two fielders are allowed outside the inner circle.
But their stay was shortlived as left-handed Lewis fell for 14 and King was bowled by Watt, who returned figures of 3-12 from his four overs, for 17.
The two-time champions slipped further at 62-4 when off-spinner Michael Leask bowled Pooran for five.
Scotland’s bowlers kept chipping away as the rest of the West Indies batting caved in, despite a valiant 38 by Holder, who was last man out.
Here are the reactions to Scotland’s superb win against West Indies at the T20 World Cup:
#T20WorldCup #WIvSCO
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 17, 2022
What. A. Result. #Scotland have defeated #WestIndies by 42 runs to start off Group B with a super result. The former champions struggled in the run-chase. Mark Watt fantastic with 3/12 in his 4 overs. https://t.co/nwR4cnnGVE pic.twitter.com/I0zLtBtTYf
What a performance 🔥
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2022
Scotland get their campaign underway with a commanding victory against West Indies 💪#T20WorldCup | #WIvSCO | 📝 https://t.co/zYWEnEHtif pic.twitter.com/rWZPmS9wyR
Upsets 👀 #T20WorldCup
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) October 17, 2022
Tweet does not exist
Impressive thing about this Scot performance is that it hasn't been an ambush. Munsey's Powerplay assault aside, it's been sensible cricket, get par, bowl intelligently (to the dimensions, to batters weaknesses) - and let the pressure tell. Immense start to the #T20WorldCup.
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 17, 2022
Mark Watt appreciation tweet!!!! #T20WorldCup2022
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) October 17, 2022
Disappointing day.
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 17, 2022
Apologies to all #WestIndies fans worldwide.#T20WorldCup | #WIvSCO | pic.twitter.com/y9EsmSbDTB
Namibia beating Sri Lanka, Scotland beating West Indies- these aren’t upsets. These matchups just occur too few and far between. We need more of these @ICC let’s stop with the tier system.
— Sritama (Ross Taylor’s version) (@cricketpun_duh) October 17, 2022
This is not a massive upset.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) October 17, 2022
Scotland have reached the same stage as Ireland and Afghanistan, a win like this is no longer the biggest news in the world. Just proof they are right on the fringes of the top teams.
Scotland have been this good for a long time.
Qualifying round seems to be tougher for test playing nations🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿#T20worldcup
— Sohaib Maqsood (@sohaibcricketer) October 17, 2022
💜 66 not out
— Cricket Scotland (@CricketScotland) October 17, 2022
💜 53 balls
💜 9 fours
💜 1 catch @GeorgeMunsey 🥇#FollowScotland 🏴 pic.twitter.com/zWfAvNeWAJ
Namibia yesterday and Scotland today. These aren't just wins, these are statements! This WC is off to a spicy start. Well done @CricketScotland 👏🏽 #WIvSCO pic.twitter.com/NjcDbctoee
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 17, 2022
Associate teams get a platform to grab eyeballs and ICC makes sure they don't by scheduling warm-up game of big teams along with them. #T20WorldCup
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 17, 2022
Interested in your 💭 everyone re: Round 1 #T20WorldCup It seems like it is an advantage for teams to come out to 🇦🇺 & prepare correctly for a big event. Instead of bigger nations playing other series around the 🌎 & then flying in for this event! West Indies going down now to 🏴
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) October 17, 2022
Mark Watt’s 24-yarder, the ball of the World Cup pic.twitter.com/n27KRKPH6S
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 17, 2022
Watt an over. #sorrynotsorry #T20WorldCup #WIvSCO
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 17, 2022
Cricket feels a diminished sport when these Associate teams are labelled ‘minnows’. They are ranked between 13-18 in the world. They’re very good teams, as we’ve seen over the last two days #T20WorldCup
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) October 17, 2022
With the squad that Windies have picked, not even sure if they are favorites for any match.
— Manya (@CSKian716) October 17, 2022
The format and the whole way the tournament is marketed need to change for next Men's T20 World Cup.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 17, 2022
The global game outside the traditional nations has never been more competitive, but the ICC give the impression of being embarrassed by these teams rather than celebrating them.
In 2022, this is the number of T20is played by cricketing nations:
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) October 17, 2022
England - 21
India - 32
Australia - 17
New Zealand - 10
Pakistan - 14
Sri Lanka - 17
West Indies - 21
Scotland - 2
Makes today’s win even more impressive when they get the chance to play so rarely. pic.twitter.com/PgzhVQ4ieW
1 - @CricketScotland have recorded just a 2nd win against a Full Member side in the #T20WorldCup (also v Bangladesh in 2021), and a 5th win generally in the competition (from 16 matches). Memorable. #T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/DF7SNbkcuP
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) October 17, 2022
Such an awesome start to the T20I World Cup. Namibia & Scotland doing well against traditional giants of the format. Higher the number of competitive teams, higher the quality of cricket overall.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 17, 2022
(Inputs from AFP)