Cricket: Scotland battle on two fronts

Scotland are on tenterhooks after their ICC Trophy semi-final against Bangladesh was carried over into a second day.

The Scots were set a daunting target of 244 from their 50 overs today after yet another rain-interrupted day's play in Kuala Lumpur.

Alex Ritchie, the general manager of the Scottish Cricket Union, said: "It is a substantial total but it can be done. You expect good scores at this stage of the tournament and although it's a hard target it is achievable."

The Scots need the Malaysian weather to co-operate. Under tournament rules , if the match was abandoned Bangladesh would go through to the final as they won their group.

After the team batting second have faced 20 overs the tie is decided on run-rate, so the Scots would have to score at just under five runs an over throughout the innings to ensure victory should the rain intervene.

Ritchie said: "I don't want to comment on tactics but of course we're going to have to try and score at a rate of 4.90 an over. Hopefully, the game will start on time tomorrow and we should know by early on Wednesday morning. It's becoming a bit of a nonsense in many ways but you can't do anything about the weather."

Should the Scots fail to overcome Bangladesh's total they will play off against Ireland for the third and final World Cup place. Both finalists gain automatic qualification, with Kenya already through to Saturday's ICC showpiece.

Ritchie said that the prospect of having to play their neighbours would encourage the players on to victory.

"We see the Irish so often I'm sure the boys will be looking to play someone else. We play them in a three-day game each year, the Triple Crown and the European Championship so they would much rather play a different team. The chance of playing Kenya and not Ireland will spur them on."