India smash Scotland by eight wickets to boost qualification hopes

Dubai, Oct 5: India demolished Scotland in Dubai, tying them in knots with the ball after winning the toss and opting to field first, bowling the Scots out for 85. And in reply KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma starred as India raced to 89/2 in just 6.3 overs, securing the win and a huge net run rate gain boost. Virat Kohli’s side went into the Group 2 fixture knowing that only a win would keep their qualification hopes alive. And the quest for that victory got off to a terrific start as four Scotland wickets fell in the Powerplay after Kohli had won the toss. India’s spin trio then hammered home the advantage, with Ravindra Jadeja the pick with 3/15 off his four overs, as Scotland succumbed to 85 all out after 17.4 overs. And the openers put on the quickest 50-run opening stand of the tournament so far, with the chase wrapped up in just 39 deliveries to lift India's NRR to +1.619, the best in Group 2. Rahul and Rohit put in a devastating display of power-hitting to race to the required target in Dubai. The impressive Mark Watt took the ball for the start of the Powerplay and leaked just eight runs in a tidy first over. Yet that was as good as it got for Scotland, with every other over going for double-figures as the opening batters tore into the Scottish attack. Brad Wheal did pick up the wicket of Sharma for 30 off 16 balls, but that barely slowed the scoring, with Rahul reaching his sparkling 50 off just 18 balls in the next over. The 29-year-old was caught in the deep off Watt, going for a big hit to wrap up the win. And Suryakumar Yadav sealed it in style with a stunning six off his second ball.