Nelson, New Zealand: Kyle Coetzer posted the first century for Scotland in a Cricket World Cup match to lead his team to 318-8 after it batted first on Thursday against Bangladesh.
Coetzer's 156 was his second one-day international century, his highest score and the second-highest individual total for Scotland in all ODIs, surpassed only by the 175 scored by his opening partner Calum MacLeod in a qualifying match against Canada last year.
He reached his century from 103 balls, eclipsing the previous-highest score for Scotland in a World Cup match which stood at 76. It was the highest score by a batsman from an associate, or second-tier, team in World Cup matches.
Coetzer swelled the Scotland total in partnerships of 78 for the third wicket with Matt Machan (35) and 139 for the fourth wicket with captain Preston Mommsen (39). Scotland's total was its third highest in ODIs, its highest against a first-tier nation, and marked only the third occasion it has surprassed 300.
Coetzer was out in the 45th over when Scotland was 269-5 but Richie Berrington (26) and Matt Cross (20) went on to push the total past 300 in a bright partnership of 39 for the sixth wicket.
Scotland reached its formidable total after being asked to bat when Bangladesh won the toss. Bangladesh selected a lineup heavy with spin bowlers but, after restricting Scotland early, couldn't keep pressure on as Coetzer's innings blossomed.
Captain Mashrafe Mortaza took one of the new balls Thursday and handed the other to slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan, who bowled a tight first spell of three overs for five runs. Shakib also returned near the end, finishing with 1-46 as the only Bangladesh bowler to complete 10 overs.
Scotland was only 39-2 after 10 overs as it struggled to find the boundary and to give its innings momentum. Coetzer was subdued at first in partnerships with MacLeod (11) and Hamish Gardiner (19) but he took charge of the innings on Gardiner's dismissal at 116-3 and began to hit out.
Coetzer batted in total for 198 minutes and faced 134 balls, hitting 17 boundaries and four sixes. He was taking a heavy toll on the Bangladesh bowlers when he made his first misjudgement and was caught by Soumya Sarkar of Nasir Hossain.
Nasir finished with 2-32 and young fast bowler Taskin Ahmed took 3-43, showing bright promise.
Scotland's total gave it a chance of achieving its twin objects for the tournament, its first win at a World Cup and its first win over a full member nation.
