SCOTLAND suffered World Cup heartbreak today 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 Duckworth-Lewis 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.

Scotland had extra reason to feel aggrieved in the loss to West Indies when Richie Berrington was given out lbw four overs before rain stopped play. Replays showed the ball missing the stumps and an umpire error, but the decision review system is not being used at the qualifying tournament.

If Berrington was still in and Scotland had lost just four wickets, they would have won on the DLS method.

“We feel pretty rough about that,” said Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer. “We are feeling a little bit emotional right now. The guys are gutted upstairs. Clearly that lbw decision didn’t go down well and it’s not for the first time in this tournament. 

“It’s a big tournament and a big game and it come down to that. It’s hard to comprehend after all the hard work we’ve done.

“There are a couple of decisions that have hurt us in the last two games and obviously another one didn’t go our way today.

“Our seam bowling has been exceptional. It’s been up there with the top quality in this tournament. Credit to West Indies for getting through, but I’ve got to give a lot of well dones and thanks to our boys.”

Scotland bowler Safyaan Sharif added: “Everyone is disappointed at how the game has ended, but that is cricket for you.”