We’re coming into this tournament looking to get into Super 8s: Scotland’s Brad Wheal | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024

Only 10 overs were possible in Scotland’s first game of the 2024 T20 World Cup against England, with openers George Munsey and Michael Jones being the only ones to get game time. The two put on 92 runs in 10 overs after the game was reduced to 10 overs a side due to rain. England were set a revised target of 109 in 10 overs but the rain arrived once again and the match had to be called off.

“Looking at the game yesterday, you said there’s only 10 overs bowled, but we definitely took some confidence out of that. Those two guys, Munns and Jonesy, going out there and just sort of putting the right foot forward. I think it’s just given the rest of the squad some good confidence to go on through the rest of this tournament and sort of believe that we’re good enough to be here and we’re good enough to compete and beat the best teams in the world,” said Scotland’s seamer Brad Wheal ahead of the game against Namibia on June 6 (Thursday).

Scotland had an opportunity to close the game but instead had to be satisfied with one point. “A bit of a frustrating result in the end for us. The boys went into that game with a lot of confidence. We’ve had a pretty decent run up over the last couple weeks and we feel like we’re in a good position to win some games out here. I think obviously we showed a small glimpse of what we could have done yesterday against the current world champions. 

“We were not overly going out there thinking we’re just going to walk over them. Like I said these are the reigning world champions. Understanding that we probably would have had tough conditions to bowl in with the wet ball, wet outfield. We knew that there was some more weather coming in. So that was always something we were looking at. But definitely a defendable target.”

Scotland are now set to take on Namibia. They have played three T20Is against them and lost all three. “I think at the end of the day every game at a World Cup is a big game regardless of who the opposition is, so nothing changes in terms of process and preparation. 

“Guys are still going to turn up to training today and do what we do as if we’re playing England or India or whoever it may be tomorrow so I don’t think that changes anything. The mindset might be slightly different but you might turn up and yes, we might not have as big a crowd watching us but we still know it’s just as big a game and we need to win to really compete here.

“We’re going into the game with the belief that we’re going to win. Namibia have obviously come off a win in their first game, so they’ll be riding hard. And they’ve got a really good, strong squad. But I think in our eyes, we definitely see ourselves as favourites because we know that these are games we can and we should win.”

Now, if Scotland can find a way to defeat Namibia and Oman and then make sure they don’t lose to Australia by a big margin, Richard Berrington and his men will give themselves a good chance of qualifying for the Super 8s. “We’re coming into this tournament looking to get into that Super 8, regardless of the rest of the teams in our group. 

“Obviously, it’s something that guys look towards, but we’re just taking it one game at a time. I know it’s cliche, but realistically our best chance of getting into that Super 8 stage and competing and turning some big teams over is looking at tomorrow’s game and then the Oman game after that. So just one game at a time.”

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