How Did Scotland Qualify for the Men's U19 World Cup 2026?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Scotland qualifies for ICC U19 Men's World Cup 2026.
- Victory achieved by defeating the Netherlands by 20 runs.
- Key performances from Finlay Jones and Manu Saraswat.
- Team remained unbeaten in the qualifying tournament.
- The World Cup will take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January.
Dundee (Scotland), Aug 7 (NationPress) - Scotland has qualified for the ICC U19 Men's World Cup after securing a victory against the Netherlands by 20 runs in the decisive Europe Qualifier.
With 238 runs needed for World Cup qualification, the Netherlands was in a strong position at 108/3 after losing two early wickets, thanks to Finlay Jones' impressive performance (4/41), who played a pivotal role in Scotland's triumph.
Manu Saraswat, an off-spinner, contributed significantly by halting the Netherlands' scoring spree with figures of 3/43. Ollie Jones took down the key wicket of Tom De Leede (67), who posed a significant threat to Scotland's chances. In a fitting conclusion, Jones secured the last wicket, leading to the Netherlands being bowled out for 217 and ensuring Scotland's qualification.
Reflecting on this achievement, captain Thomas Knight shared his overwhelming sense of relief and joy after narrowly overcoming the Netherlands in a thrilling match. "Unbelievable! I couldn't be happier, especially winning a nail-biter like that at the end," he stated. "This entire week has been building up to this one game, and we have learned so much from our journey, starting from our first match against Sweden to today."
Jones, the standout player, expressed his excitement, feeling that it was a dream to participate in the World Cup. "As a young cricketer, you always fantasize about playing in the World Cup, but you never really believe it would come true. Now, with the World Cup in January, it's something we eagerly anticipate. It has been quite the journey, and it has all paid off," he remarked.
Scotland remained undefeated throughout the tournament and will compete in the main event scheduled for January next year in Zimbabwe and Namibia.