Dunedin, New Zealand: Scotland battled their way to 142 all out against a dominant New Zealand in their World Cup Pool A match on Tuesday, with the minnows recording five ducks against the in-form hosts.

Scotland made a disastrous start with the loss of four early wickets before Matt Machan (56) and Richie Berrington (50) combined for a 97-run partnership.

The Scots, who are in their third World Cup but still searching for a maiden win, lasted 36.2 overs after being put into bat as Corey Anderson and Dan Vettori took three wickets apiece at 18 and 24 respectively.

New Zealand should be confident of reaching the target. They made 360 at the same venue last month against Sri Lanka, including an unbeaten 170 to Luke Ronchi.

The Black Caps were determined not to drop their standards against unfancied opposition after crushing Sri Lanka by 98 runs in their opening match.

They proved true to their word, fielding an unchanged line-up against Scotland, one of cricket’s non-Test playing nations.

The result was five ducks in the innings, the second highest total in ODI history, including four first-ball “golden” ducks.

Scotland  were teetering at 12 for four in the fifth over as New Zealand’s decision to bowl first paid early dividends, with Trent Boult and Tim Southee both squandering the chance to snatch hat-tricks.

“It was nice to win the toss and bowl,” said Anderson. “Trent and Tim were unbelievable at the start. They are classy swing bowlers and they showed it.”

Anderson said that even when Machan and Berrington put on 97 for the fifth wicket, the Kiwis always felt in control.

“There was no need to panic, we just kept doing what we were doing. There was movement in the morning, then the pitch flattened out a little bit.”

Boult trapped Calum MacLeod lbw with a sharply turning inswinger then dismissed Hamish Gardiner next ball with an almost identical delivery.

The Black Caps loaded the slips cordon as Machan came to the crease but Boult’s search for a hat-trick proved fruitless when he fired his delivery off target.

Southee then dismissed Kyle Coetzer when he drove the ball straight to Grant Elliott at mid-wicket and claimed the scalp of skipper Preston Mommsen lbw for a golden duck.

With the home crowd chanting as Southee steamed in, South African-born Berrington defended calmly to deny another hat-track opportunity

Machan and Berrington steadied the innings, taking Scotland to 47-4 at the end of 15 overs.

Sussex batsman Machan grew in confidence as the innings progressed, bringing up a half century off 71 balls, including six fours and one six.

Anderson finally broke the partnership when Machan miscued an attempt to go over the bowler’s head.

Anderson claimed a second in his next over, pitching it short to snare a top-edge off Berrington just after the batsman had reached 50.

From there it was simply a matter of wrapping up the tail as Scotland’s resistance crumbled.