Scotland players celebrate their victory over Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifiers at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Tuesday. BULAWAYO: A hard-fought 31-run victory over Zimbabwe kept Scotland in the hunt for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification in Bulawayo on Tuesday. Ryan Burl’s 83 looked as though it might get the hosts out of trouble, but he was dismissed by Michael Leask, Scotland’s hero on the day, taking Zimbabwe’s hopes with him. The win moves Scotland level with Zimbabwe on six points in the Super Six, with one match still to play against the Netherlands. With the Dutch also on four points, that game will decide who joins Sri Lanka in qualifying for the World Cup. Zimbabwe could have secured a place in India with a win in this game, but instead see their hopes of qualification ended, with their net run-rate worse than both the Dutch and the Scots. Big hitting down the order and crucial wickets saw Leask become Scotland’s hero. Knowing that only a win would do in Bulawayo, Scotland battled to 234 for eight from their 50 overs, before some inspired bowling carried them through, despite Burl’s best efforts. After being put into bat, Scotland started in measured fashion, a 56-run opening stand ended in the 17th over when Christopher McBride was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 28. Opening partner Matthew Cross was next to go, the first of Sean Williams’s three victims, bowled for 38 to make it 102 for two. Brandon McMullen made a run-a-ball 34 but followed shortly after, with Williams removing him and skipper Richie Berrington (7). Suddenly, Scotland were 118 for four with 31.3 overs gone. George Munsey (31) mounted some resistance but at 170 for seven, hopes of a big score seemed remote. Leask had other ideas, smashing 48 from just 34 balls, while Mark Watt’s 21 not out helped Scotland reach 234 for eight, with 54 runs from the last five overs really helping their cause. Chris Sole (3-33) gave Scotland the dream start as Zimbabwe came out to bat, removing Joylord Gumbie caught behind off the very first ball. He added Craig Ervine and in-form Williams, before Innocent Kaia was trapped leg before by McMullen to leave Zimbabwe in trouble at 37 for four. Sikandar Raza (34) is a man for the big occasion and started to rebuild with Burl, but was caught on the boundary off Chris Greaves after a 64-run stand. In came Wessly Madhevere, struggling for form but not short of potential. Ireland scrap to seventh place: Ireland needed all 50 overs to chase down 269 as they wrapped up seventh place with a two-wicket win over Nepal. Half-centuries from Harry Tector and Curtis Campher were crucial in their chase before the bowlers saw them over the line. After electing to field, Ireland’s Craig Young (2-36) made an impact after coming as first change, removing Kushal Bhurtel (8) and Gyanendra Malla (7), both caught behind to leave Nepal 44 for two. A 50-run stand between Arjun Saud (48) and skipper Rohit Paudel (29) kept the scoreboard ticking over, but they fell in the space of three overs to allow Ireland to get back on top. Kushal Malla’s 38-ball 44 came to an end when he was caught by Tector of Barry McCarthy (2-63) but Sandeep Lamichhane (32) and Gulsan Jha (57 not out) provided some valuable runs down the order. They added 80 for the eighth wicket, with Jha kicking on and hitting four fours and three sixes to take Nepal to a respectable 268 for nine from their 50 overs. Brief scores: 1: Scotland beat Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo by 31 runs Scotland 234-8 in 50 overs (Michael Leask 48, Matthew Cross 38; Sean Williams 3-41, Tendai Chatara 2-46) vs Zimbabwe 203 all out in 41.1 overs (Ryan Burl 83, Wessly Madhevere 40; Chris Sole 3-33, Brandon McMullen 2-31) 2: Ireland v Nepal at Takashinga Cricket Club, Harare by two wickets Nepal 268-9 in 50 overs (Gulsan Jha 57 not out, Arjun Saud 48; Craig Young 2-26, Mark Adair 2-47) vs Ireland 269-8 in 49.2 overs (Curtis Campher 62, Harry Tector 60; Karan KC 4-58, Kishore Mahato 2-55).