Bangladesh keep finals hopes alive

Bangladesh edged closer to a quarter-final berth at the Cricket World Cup, timing their run chase to perfection in easing to a six-wicket win over Scotland at Saxton Oval.

Bangladesh now sit fourth in Pool A on five points, with matches against England - fifth on two points - and unbeaten New Zealand remaining.

Opener Tamim Iqbal's 95 set up the win, but a poised 75-run fifth wicket partnership between Shakib Al Hasan (52) and Sabbir Rahman (42) wrapped up the win with 11 balls remaining.

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This World Cup has seen the most scores over 300 in the history of the tournament

Iqbal's innings was key as Bangladesh undertook the challenging run chase without regular opener Anamul Haque, who injured his shoulder while saving a boundary in the 31st over after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field.

A grade three AC joint injury has been diagnosed, but team management said it was unclear how long he would be out for.

Iqbal anchored Bangladesh's innings with a 100-ball knock which included nine fours and a six, receiving solid support from Mahmudullah's run-a-ball 62 and Mushfiqur Rahim's quick-time 60 off 42 balls.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza says the win was built on an outstanding batting effort.

"Our bowlers still haven't bowled well, but the batsmen are really performing, which is encouraging," he said.

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said the result was disappointing, particularly after his team's one-wicket loss to Afghanistan in Dunedin last week.

"It's very tough to take, we did a lot right but didn't produce. We couldn't create enough chances to take 10 wickets," he said.

Scotland's 8-318, their highest ever World Cup total, was set up by Kyle Coetzer's 156, his second-ever ODI century and a career-best.

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Kyle Coetzer's 156 is the highest score by an associate player in World Cups and the third-highest in ODIs

His 134-ball innings included 17 fours and four sixes, and was comfortably Scotland's best individual score at a World Cup.

He was involved in two key partnerships, compiling 78 runs with Matt Machan for the third wicket then amassing 141 runs with Mommsen for the fourth.

Mommsen's dismissal, late in the 43rd over for 39, left Scotland 3-250, with Coetzer disappearing two overs later when he was caught at deep midwicket trying to hoist Nasir Hossain over cow corner.

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Coetzer was extremely impressive against Bangladesh

Three quick wickets in the final five overs curtailed Scotland's final run push, seamer Taskin Ahmed removing Richie Berrington (26) and Cross (20) to finish with figures of 3-43 from seven overs.