Scotland overpowered Oman to bowl them out for the fourth-lowest score in List A cricket history, with the hosts managing to scrape together just 24 runs at Al Amarat on Tuesday.
Scotland needed just 3.2 overs to race to their winning score without the loss of a wicket and with a full 280 balls still in reserve.
Oman battled away manfully until the start of the 18th over before they finally succumbed after scoring at just 1.39 runs to the over. Scotland’s Adrian Neill (econ 1.68) and Ruaidhri Smith (econ 0.87) both cashed in with four wickets apiece, both finishing with figures of 4-7.
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Khawar Ali top-scored with 15 off 33 balls (including the only boundary of the innings), but the next highest score was two (scored by two players), followed by a pair of singles, five ducks and one naught not out.
Smith made the early inroads into Oman’s attack, knocking over three batsmen as the hosts collapsed to 17 for 6, and from there the contest was destined to be short-lived.
Oman’s total was also the fourth-lowest score in a List A match, but they will have to regroup fast as the second match in the series is set for Wednesday, followed by the series finale on Friday.
The result would have been particularly pleasing to KZN Inland coach Shane Burger, who will be taking up his role as head coach of Scotland in March.
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