World T20 Qualifiers: All-round Scotland trump Hong Kong in dead rubber

Nagpur: Scotland dished out a superb all-round performance to notch up an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong via D/L method in a rain-affected inconsequential match of the ICC World Twenty 20 in Nagpur on Saturday. In a first round Group B match that was interrupted twice due to rain, Hong Kong posted 127 for 7 in 20 overs but with rain delaying the start of the second innings, Scotland were given a revised target of 76 runs in 10 overs. [caption id=“attachment_2672352” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer (L) and Matt Mahan (C) celebrate after their win over Hong Kong. AFP[/caption] Scotland then overhauled the target with the loss of two wickets and as many overs to spare to post their first victory in an ICC global event at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha. It was Matt Machan who took them to victory with a six off Nadeem Ahmed in the last ball of 8th over. For Hong Kong, Ahmed (1/20) and Aizaz Khan (1/11) picked one wicket each. Chasing 76 to win, opening duo of George Munsey (19 off 11 balls) and Kyle Coetzer (20 off 19 balls) added 20 runs in first two overs before spinner Ahmed dismissed the former in the first ball of the next over. Coetzer then blasted a couple of fours as Scotland amassed 29 off the three power play overs. New man Matthew Cross (22 off 14 balls) too got into the act and plundered two sixes and a boundary as Scotland reached 56 for one in 6 overs. He was dismissed by Aizaz with Nizakat taking an easy catch at deep midwicket. Machan (15 off 4 balls) and Coetzer then finished the job for Scotland. Earlier, electing to bat, Hong Kong rode on Mark Chapman’s 41-ball 40 to post a modest 127 for 7 in their 20 overs after a brief rain interruption in the last over. Chapman scored one boundary and a six in his innings, while Jamie Atkinson (13), Babar Hayat (15), Anshuman Rath (21) and Nizakat Khan (17) were the other batsmen who reached double figures. For Scotland, Machan (2/26) took two wickets, while Mark Watt (1/21), Josh Davey (1/22), Gavin Main (1/13) and Con de Lange (1/19) snapped one wicket each. Brief Score: Hong Kong: 127 for 7 in 20 overs (M Chapman 40; MW Machan 2/26) Target revised to 76 in 10 overs due to rain delay. Scotland: 76 for 2 in 8 overs (M Cross 22; Aizaz Khan 1/11). PTI