Scotland ease past Oman to set up Ireland semi

MATTHEW Cross and Calum MacLeod’s stand of 71 helped Scotland get over the line against Oman to set up a Desert T20 cricket semi-final against Ireland.

Nottinghamshire’s Cross’ 47 and an unbeaten 35 from Durham’s MacLeod saw Scotland hit their target of 134 with one over to spare to secure a seven-wicket victory in Dubai and finish top of Group B.

Earlier, Scotland seamer Safyaan Sharif took two wickets in consecutive balls in the final over to finish with figures of 3-33, before wicketkeeper Cross ran out Sultan Ahmed off the last delivery as Oman were dismissed for 133.

Cross top-scored in Scotland’s reply, hitting two sixes and three fours in his 40-ball knock, after George Munsey (15) and Kyle Coetzer (25) had kicked off proceedings.

MacLeod then helped finish things off as Scotland made it three wins from three and ensure they face Group A runners-up Ireland.

Oman will play Afghanistan in the other semi-final.

ENGLAND batsman Alex Hales will undergo an X-ray on arrival in Kolkata after injuring the little finger on his right hand against India.

Hales sustained the injury during yesterday’s defeat i n the second one-day i nternational, diving to attempt to catch centurion Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The opener wore a sling on his right arm as he arrived with the team at Bhubaneswar airport.

Should he be ruled out of Sunday’s third and final ODI, England have Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow in reserve.

TIM Southee took 5-94 as New Zealand bowled Bangladesh out for 289 on the first day of the second Test in Christchurch.