Scotland’s hopes of moving up the I-Cup points table took a battering today in Ayr as rain washed out the entire day's play without a ball being bowled.

With only two chances of making it into the top two of this competition (none, and considerably less than none.) and receiving the reward of the Test Challenge against the lowest ranked full member, Scotland's main aim would be to claim maximum points from what few games remain and clinch 3rd place.

The weather refused to help out, just like it has on so many other occasions in this edition of the competition.

From the rain affected draw against Afghanistan in Stirling in 2015 to the complete wash out in Hong Kong in 2016, and the rain ruined affair against the U.A.E. in Ayr last year, the Scots have been done over by the weather more often than they been done over by their opponents. They are at the strange point where, after four matches, Scotland are the only team in the competition without a win.

This leaves them currently languishing towards the bottom of the table on only 30 points.

A victory against Namibia that would enable them to claim the full 20 points would see the Scotts move up into third place and onto 50 points.

Their next encounter is against Papua New Guinea and if they managed to claim full points there would move them up onto 70 points (the best ranking they would achieve would still be third place as both Afghanistan and Ireland already have over 80 points each and also have two games in hand. This also assumes that other nations currently ahead of Scotland on the points table don't perform well enough to claim full points from their own remaining games).

The current Namibia match and the upcoming P.N.G. match is Scotland’s best chance of making an impact and claiming third place.

And it all depends on the rain not washing it all away.

With the weather odds stacked against Scotland you would think that they have more right to be angry with the rain gods than most, but when asked about this situation today both coach Grant Bradburn, and senior player, Callum MacLeod, were overheard to be philosophical about it.

“Sure, it’s frustrating. But there’s nothing you can do about the weather.” They echoed as the rain continued this afternoon.

“You just have to take it in stride.” MacLeod said “Get away from the game for a while, do something else, but be prepared to play when it fines up.”

Bradburn added “We do the best we can given the circumstances. On days like this it’s disappointing that we don't get to show it but I know that when the chance to put in solid performances we will take it.”

The chances to shine have been few and far between for Scotland in the I-Cup this time round. 11 out of 16 days washed out will make it difficult for any sort of progress.

But keeping with the philosophical outlook and sunny disposition of coach Bradburn you would have to think that, well, it can't rain all the time.

Scotland certainly hopes so and that, more importantly, that when the sun does shine they make hay.

I understand that the forecast is for better weather tomorrow.