17 hours ago
Scotland feeling confident ahead of vital T20 World Cup qualifier
Doug Watson's side will go up against the hosts, Jersey, Guernsey and Italy in the round-robin event that rewards the best two teams with a place at the T20 World Cup set to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year.
Scotland have made a useful habit of qualifying for this tournament, making the last four editions starting from 2016. And the chance to again rub shoulders with the game's elite on the subcontinent – where they treasure cricket more than anywhere else on the planet – should serve as a huge incentive to the travelling party.
They will head to the Netherlands in the coming days in good spirits having topped the table at the recent home tri-series against the Dutch and Nepal but, more importantly, having gained some much-needed T20 experience after existing primarily on a diet of 50-over cricket over the last few years.
This Dutch date is by some distance their most important engagement of the year and captain Richie Berrington believes an experienced squad will head there in good form.
'I think it's been a really good month or so for us,' he said, with Scotland also hosting a one-day series against the same two nations at Forfarshire prior to the T20 action.
'There's been some really competitive cricket played by all three teams. There's also certainly been some tough moments along the way but we're just really pleased with the prep that we've had for what lies ahead of us.
'This qualifying tournament is something we've been building towards for a while now and is something we're all really looking forward to. It's going to be a great challenge. There are two spots up for grabs out of five teams so we know we're going to have to be playing our best cricket every day to make sure we get the job done there.
'But the guys are feeling confident and hopefully we can take some momentum from how we've finished the tri-series into the start of that tournament. It's probably as big as it gets going to a World Cup in India. So, the motivation is certainly there.
'We've had a few guys that have been through these qualifiers before. We know how tough it is, but we've also had success in them as well. It's going to be great for some of the younger guys coming in to experience that too.'
The sides they face may not belong in the top tier of world cricket but the Netherlands are consistently strong, Italy are a growing force and the two Channel Island sides beat established European rivals – including Denmark and Germany – to reach this final qualifier. There can be no place for complacency.
'We certainly won't be taking anyone lightly going into the tournament,' warned Berrington. 'I think especially in T20 cricket, it's small margins. We know we're going to have to be at our best in every game, regardless of who we play. The important thing is to obviously - and it's an old cliche - take it one game at a time. But that's very much what it is.
'We have to focus on what needs to be done each day and be at our best with that to make sure we execute what we need to get us through.'
Like most Scottish cricket observers, Berrington was relieved that the weather played ball to allow two series – one in Broughty Ferry, the other at Clydesdale in Glasgow, his home club – to be played with barely an interruption for rain.
It could have been a frustrating experience had the conditions been less favourable but the sun shone, allowing the Scots to get in some vital practise in front of their home supporters.
'The weather's been pretty good so we've been lucky with that,' admitted the veteran. 'That's normally the thing that lets us down, especially when we play in the west. But it's just great for the game around Scotland to have a series on one side of the country and then bring a T20 series to Glasgow.
'As a team we just want to play as much cricket as we possibly can and we've had that this past month or so. So, the more of that for us, the better, I think, especially with what lies ahead of us. It was a great job by Forfs and then Clydesdale to put on the games that they have.'
Berrington missed the start of the T20 tri-series due to illness but his century against Nepal in the one-day match showed that, even at 38, he still has plenty to offer with the bat.
'It was quite frustrating as I felt like I was starting to bat quite well,' he admits. 'I had found a bit of form, which was good. Then I just got a bit of illness and was 'man down' a little bit for a week or so. But I feel a lot better now and it's good to be back out in the middle and looking forward to what lies ahead.'
