Ireland pose biggest test, says Steindl

The Scots take on their oldest cricketing rivals in a crunch clash in Rotterdam with both sides boasting a 100 per cent tournament record.

However, despite last week's nail-biter against the Netherlands and Saturday's easy D/L success against Canada, Steindl believes his players will have to step up a gear.

He said: "The boys have done really well so far and the key is they have been doing enough to get over the line.

"That is a good quality to have and one we've maybe lacked in the team in the past.

"There have been occasions when they have had to show a lot of character individually and collectively and they have responded in the right manner.

"This will be a bigger test than the ones they have come through so far.

"Going into the tournament Ireland would have been one of the teams that most people expected to go all the way.

"Like us the Irish have a couple of big-name players unavailable but they have good depth and a winning mentality.

"We will have to match them in every department and once again concentrate on producing a positive brand of cricket."

The Scots will be forced to reshape their team after losing the services of Gregor Maiden for the remainder of the tournament.

Maiden, who had slotted into the key No 3 batting position and also offered useful spin options in the middle overs of the opposition innings, sustained a badly fractured thumb during Saturday's victory.

Steindl said: "It is a shame for Gregor to get such a bad injury at this stage because he had just come back into the team and was finding a bit of consistent form.

"He will not be easy to replace because of the two roles he was filling in the team."

Fraser Watts, Omer Hussain and Ewan Chalmers will all come into contention for a starting place against the Irishmen.

Maiden, who will fly home today, played through the pain barrier against Canada, scoring 30 of his 30 runs after sustaining the fracture.

He said: "Maybe it was foolhardy but batting was difficult and I felt I was just getting into my innings.

"It was easier for me to try to keep going than for a new batsman to come in at that stage.

"Injuries like this happen in sport so I just have to accept it but it will be worth it if the guys go on and win the tournament."

Maiden's defiance paved the way for Richie Berrington and Neil McCallum to provide late fireworks in a stand of 124.Greenock star Berrington hit his seventh half-ton of the season but was upstaged by man-of-the-match McCallum who hammered seven fours and four enormous sixes in his 89no as Scotland posted 236-4.

Gordon Goudie then routed Canada's top order with 3-18 as Scotland won by 69 runs on D/L.

Meanwhile, Scotland were last night waiting for clearance to draft in a replacement for Maiden.

Steindl has identified the player he wants but needs to get permission from members of the tournament's technical committee.