GEORGE Salmond has called on Scotland to defy the odds by beating Ireland to qualify for the World Cup – just as his team did 21 years ago.
The Scots could clinch one of two places on offer at next year’s global showpiece in England if they beat their oldest cricketing rivals at the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, today.
However, despite an unbeaten record in the World Cup Qualifier so far, Kyle Coetzer’s men go in as underdogs, having triumphed in only one of their last eight one-day internationals against the Irish.
It was a similar scenario when Salmond was captain of a Scotland team trying to qualify for their first World Cup – also in England – in 1999.
That qualifying tournament took place in Malaysia two years earlier and, with the first two places having already been clinched by Bangladesh and Kenya, the Scots and Irish went head-to-head in a winner-takes-all clash in Kuala Lumpur.
A dramatic encounter saw Salmond’s men grab victory from the jaws of defeat when a Malaysian monsoon lured Ireland into a false sense of security.
Salmond, who went on to enjoy a successful football refereeing career after his retirement from cricket, recalled: “It was one of the most amazing games I was ever involved in.
“We had reached about 50-1 when a colossal thunderstorm flooded the ground. The whole playing surface was under several inches of water and it looked pretty certain no further play would be possible – even the next day which was the reserve day.
“If that had been the case Ireland would have gone through on the basis of their better record earlier in the tournament.
“But an incredible mop-up operation, which included a helicopter hovering over the ground to help dry out the wicket, meant we did get back out the next day and we made the most of the reprieve.”
The Scots went on to post 187-8 before a shell-shocked Ireland threw wickets away at regular intervals to be all out for 141.
“I think the Irish maybe thought they were already through and were spooked by having to go out and win the game while we had nothing to lose. It was a superb achievement for Scotland to reach their first World Cup which was an experience I’ll never forget.
“Hopefully the current crop can beat Ireland like we did and get the same reward. They have played some great cricket and have every chance.”
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