Scotland cruised to victory against Papua New Guinea in their first warm-up match, winning by seven wickets in Christchurch.

A Scotland XI faced Papua New Guinea in their first official warm-up match in the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Christchurch New Zealand. Their opponents had a familiar feel about them with three of their players, Siaka, Kent and Gavera all having played previously in the SNCL.

Scotland won the toss and Kyle Coetzer elected to field first, a decision that immediately reaped rewards, as Iain Wardlaw struck in the first over trapping Assad Vala in front with only three on the board.

Eleven runs later his opening partner Safyaan Sharif got into the act when Tony Ura became the first of his four victims, caught by Michael Leask in the sixth over, and then two balls later he got the prize wicket of Geraint Jones, and PNG were on the back foot.

PNG continued to struggle as wickets fell at regular intervals crashing to 64 for 7 as they found the Scottish attack hard to handle.

It was only a late flurry by the lower order, 43 from Mahuru Dai and an unbeaten 35 from Chris Amin saw them reach 171 as they were all out in the forty eighth over.
Sharif with 4 for 24 and Rob Taylor with 4 for 26 were the pick of the Scots attack.

In reply Kyle Coetzer opened with the inform Calum MacLeod and the pair put on 59 before Raymond Haoda made the breakthrough getting Coetzer caught for 16.
MacLeod was joined by Matt Machan and he continued to take the attack to PNG scoring at more than a run a ball before he fell to the bowling of Charles Amini for a well crafted 57 which included ten fours.

Machan's batting was even more explosive hitting the PNG attack to all parts of the ground before he fell with the score on 163, He had made 67 from 45 balls and his innings included seven fours and three maximums.

It was left to Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman to see the Scots home without further loss, which they did in the twenty eighth over to give Scotland an easy win by seven wickets.

Scotland will continue their tournament preparation with a match against Namibia tomorrow before the group matches start on Monday against Hong Kong.