Scotland suffer Cricket World Cup qualification heartbreak at the hand of West Indies
Scotland suffered World Cup heartbreak after missing out on qualification in a rain-affected defeat to the West Indies in Harare.
The Saltires appeared well-placed to upset the two-time winners of the competition and qualify for next year's tournament in England before bad weather intervened and sent them packing in a five-run defeat on the DLS method.
After bowling West Indies out for just 198, Scotland were 125 for five in pursuit before heavy rain forced the game to be called off with the Scots still five runs shy of the par score.
The result means Jason Holder's side qualify for the final of the World Cup qualifiers and with it the tournament proper, while Scotland miss out having suffered their second successive defeat of the Super Six stage.
After losing to Ireland on Sunday, Scotland headed to Harare for what was essentially a knockout match against the West Indies and they enjoyed a dream start.
The dangerous Chris Gayle, who announced his return to international cricket with the intention of helping his nation qualify for the World Cup, was out to the very first ball of the match as Safyaan Sharif produced a beauty to have the big-hitting left-hander caught behind to spark big celebrations.
Things got even better when Shai Hope feathered one behind with the first ball of Sharif's next over, and from two for two, West Indies were forced to rebuild.
Marlon Samuels and Evin Lewis took their time to get going but gradually found more fluency as Scotland lost their discipline in a ragged display.
The pair put on 121 for the third wicket, but it took them almost 30 overs to do so before the impressive Brad Wheal had Lewis trapped LBW for 66.
Samuels fell soon after as Scotland reasserted their grip on the match and thanks to some fine death bowling from Sharif (three for 27) and Wheal (three for 34) they managed to restrict them to just 198, which looked within reach on a good track.
Scotland, who have struggled with the bat throughout the tournament, needed a good start to ease any lingering nerves, but they did not get one as captain and influential batsman Kyle Coetzer fell cheaply, before Matt Cross and Michael Jones also perished as they slipped to 25 for three.
Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington were forced to take a leaf out of Lewis and Samuels' book as they took their time to establish a partnership before the former toed one back to Ashley Nurse on 21.
Harry Munsey succeeded in upping the tempo but just as he and Berrington looked like they were putting the Saltires into a position of strength, Berrington was given out LBW in controversial fashion, with the ball appearing to be sliding down leg.
As the clouds drew in with Scotland behind the rate, Michael Leask made a last-ditch effort to try and get them up to the par score but the players were dragged off the pitch with Scotland 125 for five in the 36th over and the torrential rain eventually meant the game had to be called off with them agonisingly short of realising their World Cup dream.