Ali century steers England past Scots

England are a happier side and Scotland again disappointed after the English thumped their northern neighbours by 119 runs in Cricket World Cup pool play.

Chasing 304 to win, Scotland never threatened and were dismissed for 184 in the 43rd over in front of a crowd of 12,388 at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Monday. The pre-match chatter tried to paint England, after two heavy defeats, as a side with the jitters and that Scotland might do the unthinkable and beat them.

It never looked likely after England posted 8-303, opener Moeen Ali hitting a career best 128. Steven Finn backed up the batting bowling figures of 3-26, Ali 2-47, Chris Woakes 2-25 and James Anderson 2-30.

England captain Eoin Morgan was happy with a more clinical performance from his side after suggestions in the media his side could be vulnerable to their first loss to Scotland.

"I don't think there was ever a state of panic. We had two hard games and the fact we didn't perform was most disappointing. A win just puts things more at ease."

A disappointed Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen believes his side were closer than the score suggests.

He thought restricting the English to 300 when they threatened more was positive.

"We went into the half-time break, we were pretty confident we were in with a chance there, it was a good wicket, and unfortunately with the bat we just couldn't quite get going."

England's total was founded on Ali's 128, Ian Bell's 54 and late hitting by Morgan (46).

Scotland won the toss and put England into bat, hoping the bowlers could exploit the cloudy overhead conditions.

But Scotland just couldn't staunch the flow of runs, particularly from Ali. He was dropped on seven but it would have a sharp catch.

The left-hander hit 12 fours and five sixes in a display of clean and elegant hitting. Ali and Bell put on an opening stand of 172, England's highest in a world cup, beating the 158 set against East Africa in the 1975 tournament.

England managed to charge past 300 but in the final overs lost wickets quickly as they tried to hit out.

Scotland's chase never really fired and they lost regular wickets.

Former skipper Kyle Coetzer, the Aberdeen-born batsman with the South African surname, topscored in the chase with 71 and his fourth-wicket partnership of 60 with Preston Mommsen (26) was their side's best.

They now have two losses from two games.

Play was disrupted at the beginning of the 34th over when a male streaker proved too fast for security guards, making it to the middle and then out of the ground, leaping the temporary security fence to freedom. He was later apprehended outside the ground.