Scotland have moved to the brink of the Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 stage with a victory over Papua New Guinea, while Bangladesh kept their hopes alive with a convincing win over hosts Oman.
Richie Berrington smashed 70 off 49 balls, while Josh Davey took 4/18 to help Scotland to a 17-run win over Papua New Guinea at the Al Amerat ground in Oman.
Bangladesh's 26-run victory in the day's second match means they are tied on two points with Oman, behind leaders Scotland on four, with one match left each.
Berrington combined with Matthew Cross, who made 45, in a 92-run stand for the third wicket to lay the foundation for Scotland, but the team lost their way towards the end, losing four wickets in the final over, to post 165/9.
Papua New Guinea's chase was derailed at the start, when they were reduced to 35/5 inside six overs and some lusty hitting at the end by Norman Vanua, who hit 47 in 37 balls, was not enough.
Papua New Guinea’s second straight loss gives them no chance of progressing, while Scotland top the table in Group B.
Two teams from each group will advance to the Super 12 stage, which starts Sunday (NZ time).
After a shaky start, Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan propped up the Bangladesh innings with a third-wicket stand of 80, and appeared on course to give the South Asian side a big total, after they opted to bat first.
But the partnership ended when Shakib was run out for 42 and the hosts wrested back the initiative with quick wickets. Naim made 64 off 50 balls.
Oman's bowlers showed great control during the death overs and received huge cheers from the crowd, when they managed to bundle Bangladesh out for 153 with the last ball of the innings.
With Bangladesh facing the prospect of an early exit, their bowlers rose to the occasion and a clinical performance on the field restricted Oman to 127/9.
Seamer Mustafizur Rahman picked up 4/36, while Shakib showed his worth as an all-rounder with 3/28.
Reuters
