Tigers facing tough run chase

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza might blame himself for not choosing to bat first after winning the toss against Scotland in Pool A, match 27 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Minnows, Scotland batted superbly to set up a brilliant total of 318 against Bangladesh at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on Thursday. Kyle Coetzer’s brilliant 156 was the star highlight of the innings that helped Scotland to post the big total. Taskin Ahmed was the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the innings with three for 43.
Earlier, Bangladesh skipper, Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and elected to bowl first. Scottish openers, Coetzer and Calum MacLeod were down to business, but were off to a shaky start as just 13 runs were scored on the board and MacLeod departed for mere 11 after Mortaza made him caught him by Mahmudullah. Out came Hamish Gardiner and with 25 added to the total, he too was on his way back after being dismissed for 19 by Taskin Ahmed.
It was followed by a healthy 78-run stand between Coetzer and Matt Machan. Coetzer, in the process, also scored his seventh half-century in ODIs, before Machan departed for 35 off Sabbir Rahman, who claimed his first-ever wicket in ODIs. However, it was the big partnership between Coetzer and Preston Mommsen that changed the scenario. A 141-run stand for the fourth wicket saw Coetzer scoring his 2nd ODI century and also becoming the first Scottish player to score a century in the World Cup.
The partnership ended when Mommsen fell for 39 off Nasir Hossain. Out came Richie Berrington and Coetzer cruised further in the game as he eventually also brought up his 150, which was the second of the tournament, after Chris Gayle’s double knock. However, he fell for 156 off Hossain after being taken by Soumya Sarkar, as the score read 269 for the loss of five.
It was Matthew Cross who came out to join Berrington and together put up 39 runs as it was Berrington to go after giving a high catch to keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim following a hard blow on his hand off the last ball after Cross hit one straight down to him. Just a couple of balls later, it was Cross to depart for 20 as two new batsmen were out to face the last over and Josh davey along with Majid Haq were looking to take it to a big total, but Majid had to depart for for a single after being brilliantly caught by Sarkar off Shakib. Alasdair Evans came out but did not face a ball as the last ball was taken by Davey and Scotland finished on 318.