WELL now, that is more like it.
For the first time this tournament, Scotland's bowling and batting really clicked, posting a huge total and then strangling Papua New Guinea out of the match in the opening overs of the chase. It was a dominant display, a victory by 84 runs, and one that keeps them in with a chance at qualifying for next year's ICC T20 World Cup.
But for a while, it had looked as if there might not be a game at all. That old familiar foe had blown in across Dubai to taunt the poor Scots, who emerged from their slumber to the sickening sight of a rainstorm. Needing a win to realistically keep their chances of qualification alive, a wash-out would not do at all. But the match was delayed, not abandoned, and play commenced at around 11am.
Having earlier scored 181, Scotland's bowlers got off to the best possible start - five dot balls piling pressure on before a single was taken off the last of Neil Carter's first over. Then two overs were gone - Matt Machan had twirled one - with only three runs scored. Then, just after Machan had missed a tough run-out chance, Tony Ura - who had scored a century on Saturday - was out caught by a backpedalling Kyle Coetzer.
Carter stayed on for his third over, the Scots looking to press home the advantage. Kila Pala was brilliantly run out for a duck by Richie Berrington. After six overs, the Papua New Guineans had scored just 3.5 runs an over - a rate just about acceptable in a Test match, but disastrous in the flashier form of the game. Geraint Jones survived an lbw appeal before being caught out in the deep.
And when Majid Haq's first over went for just a single and Taylor's next contained two wickets and one run, victory was all but assured. All that was left now was to boost their tournament run rate. Some late lower-order hitting and a little sprinkling of rain put the slightest of dampeners on things, but not enough to douse the Scottish excitement.
Having won the toss, Papua New Guinea chose to bowl, mindful of their Duckworth-Lewis loss to Afghanistan on Sunday. Berrington and Calum MacLeod started solidly, the first six of the day coming late in the fifth over, a Berrington club down the ground. Their opponents' fielding was poor, several slippy misfields gifting extra runs.
Then MacLeod attacked: Mahuru Dai's first over went for 17 runs. He kept it up and soon a straight 6 brought up his half-century in 37 deliveries. Then another, next ball. The Scots were in the ascendancy and arrived at 100 runs after just 11 overs. Inevitably, PNG made the breakthrough, Charles Amini bowling MacLeod. He had done his job, though, with 58 off 40 balls.
Machan took a sore one early on, a quick throw towards the stumps clattering him on the back of the leg. Berrington still attacked, but a four was followed by his wicket ball; he mistimed it up into the air and the hands of John Reva. The rate slowed slightly, as the two new batsmen adjusted to life in the middle and the sun came out for Michael Leask's first appearance at the crease of the competition. He made a quick 12 before being out lbw to Charles Amini, and was later a welcome chatty presence in the field.
Coezter got out, attempting a late blitz but just finding Reva at the boundary. But Machan kept going - he was only dismissed in the penultimate delivery - making 44 off 25 balls to take the Scots to a big target. The Bermudans watched on anxiously - their qualification chances were also at stake - and frantic totting up from other team officials was enough to make heads dizzy.
One thing is for sure: the Scots must emerge triumphant from this morning's match against the Netherlands. If they can manage that, with Denmark to come on Sunday - they have lost every game so far - a path to the play-off stages surely awaits. "It's another must-win game," admitted Taylor. "Maybe slightly tougher opposition tomorrow but if we play anywhere near the way we played today I'd back our guys to get another win."
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