Scotland beat Hong Kong in the World Twenty20 Qualifier semi-final

Scotland are through to the final of the World Twenty20 Qualifier after defeating Hong Kong by five wickets in Dublin.

Both teams had already qualified for next year’s World Twenty20 in India, and Scotland will now take part in Sunday’s final, after bowling Hong Kong out for 116 and then getting home with almost eight overs to spare.

Hong Kong lost opener Jamie Atkinson for a golden duck to the fourth ball of the match when he pulled an Alasdair Evans (3-17) delivery into the hands of Josh Davey at mid-on.

Nizakat Khan (9) then fell in the third over, caught behind by Matty Cross off Evans, and it was 23-3 when Irfan Ahmed (11) went in the very next over, caught at cover by Rob Taylor off Safyaan Sharif (3-29).

Mark Chapman managed 24 but then missed a straight one from Sharif, and Anshuman Rath and Babar Hayat were both dismissed by man of the match Taylor (3-17) in the 12th over.

Aizaz Khan gave the innings some momentum, hitting two sixes and a four in his 21-ball 31, but was caught by Evans off Sharif in the 18th over, and Hong Kong were all out with two balls of the innings remaining when Nadeem Ahmed (10) top-edged a catch to Con de Lange off Davey.

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Kyle Coetzer (33 off 19) then got Scotland’s run chase off to a good start, hitting two fours and a six in the first over, but his opening partner Calum MacLeod fell for a duck in the second, inside edging a Haseeb Amjad delivery onto his stumps.

Cross (39 from just 15 balls) and Coetzer then got Scotland firmly on track with a speedy second-wicket partnership of 52.

But Hong Kong gave themselves a modicum of hope when Cross was caught by Nadeem Ahmed at cover off Tanwir Afzal and Coetzer departed in the following over.

Richie Berrington (3) then became a second victim for Irfan Ahmed (2-26), making it 83-4, but George Munsey guided the Scots home with 25 not out.

Watch Scotland in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier final on Sky Sports 3 HD from 1.45pm on Sunday.