Scotland ready for a big bash in Edinburgh

Scotland cricket head coach Grant Bradburn is urging Capital sports fans to get out and cheer his team on to success in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers which begin next week.
Scotland coach Grant BradburnScotland coach Grant Bradburn
Scotland coach Grant Bradburn

The Grange, Goldenacre and Myreside have all been chosen to host matches while Stirling’s New Williamsfield is to be used as well as grounds in Ireland.

During the event 14 international sides will battle it out over 18 days between July 9 and 26. Scotland, who have previously played in the World Twenty20 in 2007 and 2009, will be in group B.

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In the group they will then play UAE at The Grange (July 9), the Netherlands (The Grange, July 11), Afghanistan (The Grange, July 12), Kenya (The Grange, July 14), and then Canada and Oman at Goldenacre (July 16 and 18).

Group A – being played in Ireland – consists of Ireland, Nepal, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, USA and Jersey.

After group matches and then play-offs, six sides will then earn places at the World Twenty20 in India in 2016.

Scotland’s players begin their quest for glory with a warm-up match against Namibia at The Grange in Stockbridge on Monday (10am).

With the matches only 20 overs a side and taking just more than three hours to complete it is potentially the most exciting format of cricket and you can be assured of seeing lots of big hitting – and hopefully a number of sixes – if you head along to a match.

Bradburn said: “Twenty20 is such an exciting form of the game and it is a great day out for families so I hope that we will see a number of people heading down to cheer the guys on. In terms of where we are as a team I think we are learning all of the time and the recent trip to Ireland for some friendly matches really helped our preparations.”

Four Capital-based players have made Scotland’s squad for the tournament and will be keen to impress in front of family, friends and club mates.

Carlton’s Preston Mommsen will captain the side and he is joined by his club team-mate Ali Evans, Mazars Grange’s George Munsey and Heriot’s Mark Watt. All-rounder Mommsen and bowler Evans have been around the national set-up for a while, but 22-year-old hard-hitting opening batsman Munsey and 18-year-old spinning all-rounder Watt are both new to the fold.

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They both showed up well in the recent warm-up series with Ireland and Munsey said: “To be able to play for Scotland at my home ground at The Grange would be something extra special. I love batting there so I just have to make sure that I perform well and help the team do as well as we can.

“I have been batting pretty well this season and I usually have plans regarding what shots I want to play against which bowlers and hopefully they will come off in this event.”

For information on tickets, visit www.cricketscotland.com

Scotland squad: Preston Mommsen, Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Matt Cross, Josh Davey, Con de Lange, Ali Evans, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Gavin Main, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Craig Wallace, Mark Watt.