Press Trust of India
Dunedin (New Zealand), Feb 17: Co-hosts New Zealand struggled to a three-wicket win against a spirited Scotland but jumped to the top of Pool A with their second consecutive victory in the World Cup, here Tuesday.
After winning the toss the Kiwi pace spearheads, led by Trent Boult (2/21) set up the win as they easily bundled out Scotland for a measly 142 in 36.2 overs at University Oval ground. Veteran spinner Daniel Vettori (3/24) polished of the Scottish lower-order after pacers Boult, Tim Southee (2/35) and Corey Anderson (3/18) had unsettled the Scotland innings. Scotland owed their total to 142 after Matt Machan (56, 79b, 7×4, 1×6) and Richie Berrington (50, 80b, 4×4, 1×6) struck fighting half centuries.
The total was too small to defend but Scotland paceman Iain Wardlaw (3/57) quickly removed Kiwi opener Martin Guptill and skipper Brendon McCullum to bring his side back into the game. Wardlaw was well supported by medium pacer JH Davey (3/24) as the duo created panic in the Kiwi ranks. But then in spite of wickets at regular intervals the hosts managed to pull off victory with Kane Williamson (38, 45b, 6×4) and Grant Elliott (29, 31b, 5×4) making useful contributions.
Earlier, Boult rocked the Scotland top-order by taking two wickets in two balls as he trapped opener Calum MacLeod and Hamish Gardiner before the batsmen could open their accounts. Southee inflicted more damage when he accounted for other opener Kyle Coetzer and Scot skipper Preston Mommsen in consecutive balls in the fifth over, leaving the opponents struggling at 12 for four.
Machan and Berrington dug their heels in for a 97-run stand for the fifth wicket but they had too much to do on a pitch with greenish tinge. Left-arm pacer Anderson broke the stand when he had Machan caught by McCullum with the scorecard reading 109. Anderson added two more wickets to his kitty and Vettori took last three wickets as Scotland innings folded quickly.
Brief Scores:
Scotland: 142 in 36.2 overs. (Matt Machan 56, Richie Berrington 50; Corey Anderson 3/18, Daniel Vettori 3/24) lost to New Zealand: 146 for 7 in 24.5 overs. (Kane Willamson 38, Grant Elliot 29; Josh Davey 3/40, Iain Wardlaw 3/57) by three wickets.