Watson hundred grabs tense win for Scotland

Scotland 293 for 8 (Watson 117*, Poonia 73) beat Canada 292 for 5 (Ali 70, Bagai 64*, Dhaniram 51*) by two wickets
Scorecard

Ryan Watson overcame stifling conditions in Mombasa to guide Scotland to a memorable three-wicket win with one ball to spare against Canada, who had earlier posted their record ODI total. Scotland's chase was given a kick-start by Navdeep Poonia's 73, but after a middle-order wobble Watson was the hero.

A consistent effort from Canada's batsmen, led by Qaiser Ali's 70, put Scotland's bowlers to the sword for the second day running after Kenya had yesterday handed them a fierce pasting. However, this time the batsmen responded and the second-wicket stand of 100 between Poonia and Watson changed the course of the match.

Poonia is a talented strokemaker who showed his ability in a number of one-day outings for Warwickshire last season. Today he struck 11 fours and two sixes off 68 balls before he was bowled. The middle order made starts but no-one could stay with Watson and when Majid Haq was removed by John Davison Scotland were in trouble at 238 for 6, needing 55 off six overs.

Watson, though, held firm and hit two maximums in the 45th over, bowled by Sunil Dhaniram, to raise Scottish hopes. When Craig Wright fell, John Blain showed impressive resolve and his two boundaries in the 49th over effectively sealed the result, but it was left to Ross Lyons to hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball. Canada's fielding had slipped in the heat with a number of crucial chances being shelled.

Neither team were used to the oppressive conditions and earlier it had been Canada's turn to run the fielders ragged. Davison gave them a flying start with a typically flamboyant 41 off 32 balls and Ashish Bagai kept the tempo going with a run-a-ball knock, but was forced to retire with dehydration although he returned late in the innings.

Ali held things together and the finishing touches to Canada's impressive effort were added by Dhaniram, who clubbed two fours and a six, as he put on 74 with Ashif Mulla for the fifth wicket. But on a day where it was tough work being a bowler, Canada's record total wasn't enough to stop Scotland.