Parker to the four as Scots seal win

The Scots did this the hard way when they first crawled to just 172-8 and then almost allowed Kenya off the hook after reducing them to 115-9.

Defending such a meagre total, early wickets were vital and Parker and Gordon Goudie obliged as the Kenyans were reduced to 13-2.

Parker struck in his first over when he trapped skipper Maurice Ouma lbw, while Goudie removed Collins Obuya courtesy of Moneeb Iqbal's well-taken catch at mid-wicket.

Alex Obanda was quick to punish anything loose from the Scottish bowlers in a hard-hitting 39, including four boundaries, but Richie Berrington joined the attack to end his assault with a sharp return catch.

Berrington also had Rakeep Patel well caught by a diving Dougie Lockhart as the Kenyans were reduced to 52-4.

Scotland were frustrated by Jimmy Kamande and Thomas Odoyo who added 42 before the latter attempted a reverse sweep and was bowled by Ross Lyons.

Parker returned to the attack to trap Dominic Wesongo in front before Lyons picked up the key wicket of Kamande caught at fine leg by Parker for 34 as Scotland turned the screw.

Man-of-the-match Parker clean-bowled Shen Ngoche and claimed his third lbw to remove Nelson Odhiambo and finish with 4-33. At 115-9 the game looked up for the Kenyans, but Nehemiah Odhiambo and James Ngoche put on 51 runs. However, skipper Gordon Drummond held his nerve to bowl Odhiambo in the nick of time.

Earlier there was little hint of the difficulties to follow as Preston Mommsen and Ollie Hairs posted 41 for the first wicket - their highest stand together.

Mommsen was first to show intent with a fine pull to the backward square leg boundary off Nehemiah Odhiambo. However, the Carlton batsman retreated into his shell after being dropped at second slip off the next ball.

It was left to Hairs to carry the attack to the Kenyans and the youngster briefly rose to the challenge.

The young Grange left-hander took a particular liking to some wayward stuff from Odoyo, hitting five of his six boundaries off the experienced Kenyan seamer, including two delightful cuts off successive deliveries.

However, the introduction of spin immediately ended Hairs' stay at the crease when he could only direct a lifting delivery from James Ngoche to Collins Obuya at slip.

His departure signalled a dramatic fall in the run-rate as Fraser Watts joined Mommsen who was completely bogged down.

The Scots added just 14 runs in eight overs following the dismissal of Hairs before Mommsen was sent back by Carlton team-mate Watts and run out for the second game in a row.

He had faced 59 balls for just 11 runs.

Worse followed for Scotland when Berrington and Neil McCallum went cheaply, both bowled by Ngoche who claimed 3-18 from his ten overs.

Partial repairs were provided by Watts and Moneeb Iqbal who added 73, albeit slowly, for the fifth wicket. Boundaries were at a premium, Iqbal breaking a 12-over sequence with a drive through the covers for four.

Watts battled away for a dogged 50 from 92 balls while Iqbal faced 71 for his 36, but the departure of both batsmen in quick succession undermined Scotland's hopes. In the end their total proved enough - just.

Victory over Afghanistan tomorrow will almost certainly secure Scotland's place in the final.z