Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Scotland’s Cricket World Cup hopes ended by Bangladesh
Kyle Coetzer scored Scotland’s first World Cup century but their tournament hopes were ended with a six-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Nelson.
Scotland can no longer qualify for the knockout stages after losing their fourth match out of four in Pool A.
Coetzer’s 156 was the best World Cup score by an associate nation batsman and helped his team post 318-8 – their highest score against a Test side.
But Tamim Iqbal (95) led Bangladesh to victory with 11 balls to spare.
It was the second-highest successful run chase in a World Cup game after the 329-7 Ireland managed against England at Bangalore in 2011.
The result means England must beat Bangladesh when the two sides meet on Monday if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Test Match Special summariser Vic Marks |
|---|
| “That’s no disgrace for the Scots. The batsmen fired for the first time and gave them a chance. We knew it was only a chance because this was a belting wicket. |
| “Maybe they weren’t quite disciplined enough in the field – they gave away too many free runs – and there’s not enough firepower in their attack.” |
| “England will certainly have been watching this. Bangladesh may have gone for 318, but they won the game comfortably in the end. So watch out England.” |
Scotland, meanwhile, face the daunting task of taking on Sri Lanka and Australia in their remaining group matches.
Their chances of a first World Cup victory looked promising after Coetzer brought up his record-breaking century in style by hitting his second six.
The 30-year-old Northamptonshire batsman finished with 17 fours and four sixes in his 134-ball innings.
Scotland were reduced to 38-2 in the 10th over after being asked to bat but Coetzer put on 78 with Matt Machan (35) and then 141 with captain Preston Mommsen (39).
Coetzer’s landmark innings |
|---|
| Coetzer’s 156 was his second one-day international century, his highest score and the second-highest individual total for Scotland in all ODIs, surpassed only by the 175 scored by his opening partner Calum MacLeod in a qualifying match against Canada last year. |
| He reached his century from 103 balls, eclipsing the previous-highest score for Scotland in a World Cup match which stood at 76. It was the highest score by a batsman from an associate, or second-tier, team in World Cup matches. |
His stand with Mommsen was Scotland’s first century partnership in 12 matches at World Cups.
After Coetzer was dismissed in the 45th over with Scotland 269-5, Richie Berrington (26) and Matt Cross (20) combined for a quickfire 39 that saw their side past 300 for only the third time in ODIs.
While Saxton Oval is a high-scoring ground, the total was made tougher for Bangladesh when opening batsman Anamul Haque appeared to dislocate his right shoulder when diving to stop a boundary and was unable to bat.
Davey makes his mark with the ball |
|---|
| Josh Davey is the second highest wicket-taker at this World Cup with 11 – two behind the leader Tim Southee of New Zealand. |
| The seamer also has the most wickets for Scotland in a World Cup tournament, beating John Blain’s 10 in 1999. |
Scotland seamer Josh Davey took an early wicket but Tamim and Mahmudullah (62) made excellent progress before the latter was dismissed in bizarre circumstances.
The batsman was bowled by Iain Wardlaw for 62 after deflecting a leg-side delivery on to the stumps off his back foot.
Tamim was closing in on Bangladesh’s first hundred in a World Cup match but was trapped leg before wicket by Davey to renew Scotland’s hopes.
But Mushfiqur Rahim made a rapid 60 from 42 balls and then Shakib Al Hasan (52 not out) and Sabbir Rahman (42 not out) completed the victory with no further alarms as Scotland’s bowlers struggled.
Listen to highlights from Test Match Special’s and 5 live Sport’s 2015 World Cup coverage.
Pool A |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | R/R | Points | |
| Q | New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +3.59 | 8 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +0.13 | 6 |
| 3 | Australia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1.80 | 5 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1.18 | 5 |
| 5 | England | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -1.20 | 2 |
| 6 | Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -1.95 | 2 |
| 7 | Scotland | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -1.42 | 0 |
BBC Sport