ICC World T20: Scotland win first match at global ICC event
Scotland earn first win in 21 attempts at world tournament
Sunday 13 March 2016 10:20, UK
Scotland recorded their first win at a global ICC event at the 21st time of asking after beating Hong Kong by eight wickets in a rain-affected game at the World T20.
Preston Mommsen's men restricted Hong Kong to 127-7 in Nagpur but when heavy rain caused a lengthy delay Scotland were asked to chase 76 from a revised 10 overs instead.
Matthew Cross (22), Kyle Coetzer (20no) and George Munsey (19no) settled any nerves, before Man of the Match Matt Machan (15no) sealed the win with two overs to spare by smashing a six.
Hong Kong opted to bat first against Scotland but slipped to 33-3 inside seven overs as Ryan Campbell (0) sliced to third man and Jamie Atkinson (13) and Babar Hayat (15) failed to capitalise on starts.
Mark Chapman (40) and Ansuman Rath (21) put on a steadily-paced 49 for the fourth wicket before Rath's stumping and the run-out of skipper Tanwir Afzal (0) hampered their plans to accelerate.
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Chapman perished shortly after, splicing spinner Mark Watt to short fine leg, though Nizakat Khan (17) hit back-to-back maximums off Machan (2-26) to help Hong Kong to a decent total.
The initial rain interval came three balls from the end of Hong Kong's knock but hopes the inclement weather had passed were dashed as Scotland openers Coetzer and Munsey took guard.
The downpour eventually eased, though, and Scotland claimed their win for only the loss of Munsey, who pulled to square leg, and Cross, who picked out midwicket.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen: "This is momentous and the boys are chuffed - it has been a long time coming! We have to keep qualifying for the tournaments and hope that the floodgates open. We want to play more cricket and hopefully our performances here have shown we are capable of matching the better teams out there."
Will Ireland, scuppered by rain against Bangladesh on Friday, end their World T20 campaign with a consolation victory over Netherlands - and which of Bangladesh and Oman will advance to the Super 10s? Watch the Group A finale on Sky Sports 2, from 9am on Sunday morning.
