Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer rues controversial LBW decision as they miss out on WC
Scotland's captain Kyle Coetzer blames a controversial LBW decision against his team in the WC qualifier against the Windies which ultimately cost them a place in the ICC 2019 World Cup. Coetzer was full of praise for his team as he said that the entire world was backing them to win that match.
The controversy surrounding the DRS when it was tested initially had seemingly died off, with the ICC allowing the use of the technology in competitive matches and in the World Cup as well. However, the decision to not involve the DRS in the recently concluded World Cup qualifier between Scotland and West Indies will be questioned as a controversial LBW decision against Scottish batsman Richie Berrington smashed the Scottish team’s chances of making it to the 2019 ICC World Cup. Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer had some interesting words to say on the issue.
“Clearly that lbw decision is not sitting very well with us right now. It’s not the first one in this tournament. In a competition like this, it comes down to a big game like that. Two critical moments in two critical games have potentially cost us. So we’re not feeling too flash right now,” Kyle Coetzer said in an interview to Cricbuzz.
Scotland decided to bowl first and managed to dismiss West Indies opener Chris Gayle for a golden duck as Scottish bowler Safyaan Sharif picked his wicket in the first over. Sharif stuck again in the next over to reduce the West Indies to 2/2 before a 121-run partnership between Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels helped to steady the innings.
“Our boys bowled extremely well up front and picked up early wickets. Credit to the two West Indian batsmen who came in and played brilliantly to see them through that rough period,” Coetzer added.
In Scotland’s innings, Partnerships between Calum MacLeod and Berrington, and then Berrington and George Munsey, helped keep Scotland’s chase ticking over, but Berrington’s controversial LBW dismissal just before the rain arrived proved to be the turning point in the match. However, Coetzer was full of praise for his side’s performance in the game against one of the stronger teams in the cricketing world as he claimed that the entire world wanted the Scots to pull off a historic win.
“I couldn’t say any more for our guys. They have been absolutely outstanding. There’s obviously been a lot of pressure on them,”
“There was extreme pressure today, with pretty much the whole world barring the West Indies wanting us to turn them over. That was what we feel is for the good of the game. Try and make a scene and get us into that World Cup. But it wasn’t to be today,” Coetzer added.