SCOTLAND last night held their nerve to stay on course for automatic World Cup qualification with a thrilling 12-run victory over Kenya in Aberdeen.

A fine century from Matt Machan put them on course but the Kenyans fought all the way and looked the likelier for much of their innings as they chased Scotland's 242-4.

However, Kyle Coetzer's side stuck to their plans and produced some excellent bowling at the death.

Coetzer said: "Matt is a classy batsman and has already been on the verge of a performance like that in his short Scotland career.

"It was a great innings and his partnership with Preston Mommsen is one of the best I have seen by Scotland in an ODI. They gave us exactly the impetus we needed when they came together."

Coetzer's men were on the receiving end of a determined fightback from the Africans, who put themselves in pole position when they reached 186-4 with nine overs remaining.

However, Machan claimed three wickets and Yorkshire's Iain Wardlaw took 4-43 to seal the win that keeps the Scots on course to qualify for the 2015 World Cup.

They meet Kenya again tomorrow when victory would take them second in the eight-team table.

They had made the ideal start when Iain Wardlaw broke through in the second over, trapping Alex Obanda in front for a duck.

However, Morris Ouma launched a hard-hitting counterattack with three boundaries off Neil Carter in one over, showing no respect for the reputation of the former Warwickshire all-rounder.

Ouma and the more circumspect Irfan Karim quickly had the Africans up with the required rate though the Scots gave both batsmen a "life."

Karim was on 12 when he edged a Majid Haq delivery only for Preston Mommsen to put down the catch. Haq's second over brought further woe when centurion Machan put down a straightforward chance to remove the dangerous Ouma.

The former Kenya captain made the most of his reprieve, moving to a swift half-century with four boundaries.

Machan eventually atoned for his earlier drop with the wicket of Karim, well caught by David Murphy for 30 as Scotland stuck to their task.

A fine spell from Leicestershire's left-arm seamer Rob Taylor was rewarded with the key wicket of Ouma, who chipped a catch to Mommsen at mid-wicket to depart for 57. Mommsen was again the catcher as Machan struck for a second time to dismiss Kenya captain Collins Obuya for a duck as the visitors wobbled on 103-4.

However, the pendulum swung again in Kenya's favour as Tamray Mishra and Ragep Patel embarked on a stand that brought 84 runs. Patel led the way with a six and four boun-daries in his half-century before becoming Machan's third victim.

The Kenyans, needing seven-an-over for the last six overs and with five wickets in hand, were still in charge.

However, Calum MacLeod removed Ragheb Aga before Wardlaw struck three times in quick succession, leaving Carter to clinch victory with the first delivery of the final over when Mishra holed out to Freddie Coleman for 61.

"We are over the moon to get this win because everyone knows how much was riding on it," added Coetzer. "To be fair, the Kenyans came hard at us and some of their guys batted really well.

"They maybe looked like favourites to some but we still had our death bowlers and they stuck to their plans and executed superbly.

"But I believe we can improve on this performance and there is definitely more in the tank."

Kenya coach Robin Brown said: "We had it in our grasp and it is very much a case of us losing the game rather than Scotland winning it. It wasn't a difficult target to chase down and we were in touch with the required rate almost all the way through."