Georgetown, June 8: Co-hosts West Indies will look to shake off their batting rustiness and come in their element when they face Uganda in a Group C T20 World Cup clash here.
The pre-tournament favourites and two-time former champions suffered a scare chasing a modest 137 before they scraped to five-wicket win over minnows Papua New Guinea in their opening match.
On a difficult pitch that required patience and application, West Indies batters kept playing recklessly and found themselves half the side down for 97 with just four overs remaining.
It was then left to Roston Chase (42 not out) and Andre Russell (15 not out) to safely take them home and avoid an embarrassment.
Against a team who are coming on the back of morale boosting win over Papua New Guinea, West Indies will have to exercise some caution especially with the bat.Nicholas Pooran has been their most standout batter in the recent past and the wicketkeeper-batter will have responsibility to stay at the crease till the end.
On conditions that have assisted the bowlers, pacer Alzarri Joseph and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein who were impressive in the previous match will look to give early breakthroughs.
Uganda have happy memories of bowling out Papua New Guinea for 77 at this venue but their batting will be in the spotlight as they struggled in the chase before securing a tense three-wicket win in the penultimate over.Match starts: 6am IST.
Scotland will start as firm favourites against Oman in a Group B clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, which will be hosting its first match of the tournament on Sunday.
After their washout against England in their opener that gave both the teams one point each, the Scotland secured a five-wicket win against Namibia in what turned out to be a tense 156-run chase.
The result mean that Scotland now have the opportunity to go up to five points which might complicate the Super Eight qualifying scenarios for tournament heavyweights England and Australia who lock horns later on Saturday.
Only top two teams make the Super Eight. Australia and Namibia have two points each sitting behind Scotland, while England are second from the bottom with one point from one match.
While skipper Richie Berrington has been in form leading their chase with an unbeaten fifty, he would hope that their top-three George Munsey, Michael Jones and Brandon McMullen start to fire.
Oman have lost both their matches putting up ordinary shows with the bat and it would be too much of an ask for them to turn things around.
Match starts: 10.30pm IST.
As the T20 World Cup intensifies, the stakes are high for both the West Indies and Scotland. The West Indies, despite a shaky start, have the potential to showcase their dominance against Uganda, with key players needing to step up under challenging conditions. Meanwhile, Scotland’s clash with Oman offers them a prime chance to solidify their position in the Super Eight, adding pressure on the tournament heavyweights. As fans eagerly anticipate these crucial matches, the drama and excitement of the World Cup continue to unfold, promising thrilling cricket and unexpected twists.
In this high-stakes scenario, the West Indies must address their batting inconsistencies to avoid any further scares. Their encounter with Uganda is not just a game but a test of resilience and strategic acumen. On the other hand, Scotland’s journey through the tournament has been marked by grit and determination. Their upcoming match against Oman is a golden opportunity to gain crucial points and tighten their grip on a Super Eight spot. As the tournament progresses, every game, every run, and every wicket becomes pivotal, underscoring the relentless and exhilarating nature of T20 cricket. (PTI)
