Scotland overcame a gritty performance by Canada in the second round of matches in the World Cricket League tournament in Nairobi on Wednesday, and are joined by Ireland and hosts Kenya on full points.

Canada won the toss and inserted Scotland on a damp pitch after overnight rain had delayed the start of the game by an hour. But an opening partnership of 66 between Fraser Watts and Majid Haq (23) gave the Scots a good start, Watts going on to top-score with 70.

There was a cameo innings, too, from Ryan Watson (43), who had a torrid time at the crease in the face of some hostile bowling by Cummins and Bhatti.

Ex-County players Gavin Hamilton (64) and Dougie Brown (50) shared an undefeated century partnership for the fifth wicket as Scotland racked up a challenging total of 276 for four.

The Canadians set off at a run a ball, but soon lost the talismanic John Davison, though Samand helped take the total to 92 before he became the second wicket, lbw to Brown. But Ashish Bagai had by then come to the crease, and he was still there at the end on 130, a magnificent innings which deservedly won his the Man-of-the-Match award in a losing cause.

The Scots were certainly in danger of losing while Bagai was in charge, sharinexcellent g an partnership with Mulla (40). But as the run-rate began to climb, wickets fell more frequently, with Wright and Haq picking up a couple each, courtesy of three magnificent deep field catches by Fraser Wsatts, John Blain and Ryan Watson, enabling the Scots to keep a check in the gathering gloom.

Scotland skipper Craig Wright said ìWith the morning dampness, it was a bad toss to lose, and it could have been vital. But our batsmen did a tremendous job putting up 276 on the board, and we just had to hang in there with the bowling until the pressure on the Canadians made things happen for us.î

Scotland have now shown five times in their last six ODIs that they are capable of posting or chasing a score approaching the 300-mark. Yesterday, the Irish, too, successfully chased a 276 target set unexpectedly by Bermuda, keeping alive the possibility of an all-European final next week.