Calum MacLeod recorded the highest score by a Scotland batsman in 2015 and it led the team to their biggest victory in terms of runs. That symmetry persisted on Friday when he made the third-highest score by a Scotland batsman and it led the team to their third biggest victory. PNG were on wrong side of these records and, on their home turf in Port Moresby, slipped to defeat by 101 runs.
MacLeod’s innings featured three sixes and 15 fours. He was so comfortable that on a pitch where only four batsmen from either side made more than 30, he batted out 163 balls and maintained a strike-rate of 95. It was on the back of his knock that Scotland got to 278 for 9, though they could have got a lot more considering they were 240 for 2 in the 45th over.
PNG seamers Alei Nao and Norman Vanua took six wickets between them. Their fightback didn’t extend to the batting though and were three down by the end of the 10th over. At 85 for 5 in the 21st, PNG’s chase seemed all but finished and even their effort to last their full quota didn’t come to pass as they were bowled out for 177 in the 44th over.
Scotland used five bowlers, and all but one of them managed an economy rate of four or fewer. Alasdair Evans, Micael Leask and Stuart Whittingham picked up two wickets each.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo