Afghanistan bowl out Scotland for 210, their highest World Cup score

DUNEDIN/NEW ZEALAND: Majid Haq and Alasdair Evans shared valuable 62 runs for the ninth wicket to lift Scotland to 210, its highest cricket World Cup score in three appearances, in a Pool A match against Afghanistan here today.

Asked to bat first on a seam-friendly conditions, Scotland lost wickets at regular intervals to be reduced to 144 for eight at one stage before Haq and Evans batted sensible to register Scotland's highest ninth wicket partnership and also Scotland register their highest score in the World Cup.

For Afghanistan, opening bowling pair of Shapoor Zadran (4/38) and Dawlat Zadran (3/29) used the bowler-friendly conditions to perfection to share seven wickets between them University Oval.

Afghanistan bowlers got going from the start and snared wickets at regular breaks to never really let Scotland settle.

The Scots were themselves to blame as barring three most of their batsmen gave away starts to find themselves to lose half of their side inside the 100-run mark.

Kyle Coetzer (25), Matt Machan (31), skipper Preston Mommsen (23), Richie Berrington (25) and wicketkeeper Matthew Cross (15) all got starts before giving away their wickets.

In a spot of bother at 144, it took a sensible and gritty effort from Haq and Evans to rescue Scotland from dire straits.

Haq and Evans took the fight to the opposition bowlers and played cautiously to help Scotland bat out the entire 50 overs and in the process notch up their highest World Cup score, bettering 186 runs scored against South Africa in 2007 edition of the tournament.

The ninth-wicket partnership between lasted almost 13 overs, before its innings ended off the last ball of the final over.