A brilliant 70 from Richie Berrington helped Scotland to their second win in three days at the 2021 T20 Cricket World Cup as they moved to the brink of qualification to the Super 12 stage. 

Scotland, who stunned Bangladesh in their opening game of the tournament on Sunday, beat Papua New Guinea by 17 runs at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground

Berrington starred with the bat for the Scots, smashing a superb 70 from 49 balls with Matt Cross the other standout, hitting 45 from 36 as Scotland finished on 165-9. 

PNG made an admirable fightback after falling to 35-5 in their pursuit but ultimately fell short thanks stellar bowling performance from Josh Davey who finished with bowling figures of 4-18. 

Berrington leads the way as Scotland's good from continues 

After successfully chasing down 134 in their opening game Scotland, captain Kyle Coetzer appeared full of confidence in his sides batting, opting to insert his side first after winning the toss. 

The innings got off to somewhat of a rocky start however, with the Scots losing both their openers, Coetzer and George Munsey, inside the first four overs - stuttering to 26-2. 

Berrington and Cross quickly turned things around though, putting together a partnership of 92 over the next eleven overs, eventually brining the score 118 before Cross tried one big shot to many and was caught in the deep by Charles Amini off the bowling of Simon Atai.

It was the experienced Berrington at the other end though, who truly put on a show, smashing three sixes - including one that went 97m, the longest of the tournament so far - and and six fours it what was without doubt the best innings of the World Cup so far. 

The fun did eventually come to an end when the 34-year-old fell to the bowling of Chad Soper in the penultimate over.

There was a bright spot for PNG towards the end of the innings however, as four wickets fell in the final over - with Kabua Vagi Morea picking up the countries first ever world cup hat-trick off the final three deliveries as the Scots finished on 165-9. 

Davey takes four as PNG top order blown away 

Playing in their first ever world cup, Papua New Guinea were in desperate search of victory in order to keep their chances of reaching the Super 12's alive after being beaten by Oman in their opening game - but their chase got off to a nightmare start. 

The PNG top order struggled to cope with the quality of Scotland's seem bowling attack and quickly collapsed to 35-5 by the end of the powerplay. 

A 32 run stand between Sese Bau and Norman Vanua did manage to somewhat stabilize things, until Bau fell to the bowling of Chris Greaves for 24 in the 12th over. 

The highlight of the PNG innings was undoubtedly the performance of Vanua who hit a 37 ball 47. 

The 27-year-old never manged to find a partner who could give him and adequate level of support though - eventually being dismissed himself in the 18th over after being caught behind off the bowling of Davey. 

The end of the innings came quickly after with Davey picking up his fourth and final wicket, that of Soper who was again caught nicking off behind the stumps, with PNG falling 17 runs short. 

Defeat ended Papua New Guinea's chances of reaching the Super 12 stage. 

Scotland, on the other hand, are in prime position to advance to the next stage of the tournament and can finish top of their group if they defeat Oman on Thursday.  

 

 

 

  

 

 

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