Kyle Coetzer became the first Scotland player to score a World Cup century but couldn’t prevent the Saltires losing to Bangladesh.
Coetzer’s splendid 156 from 134 balls, including 17 fours and four sixes, helped the Scots post an impressive 318 for eight.
But the Saxton Oval wicket most certainly favoured the batsmen as Bangladesh – helmed by Tamim Iqbal’s 95 and further half-centuries from Mahmudullah (62), Mushfiqur Rahim (60) and Shakib Al Hasan (52 not out) – reached 322 for four with 11 balls to spare to earn their second win in four games.
Bangladesh, level on points with third-placed Australia in Group A, face England in their next group game on Monday, with the winners of the Adelaide Oval encounter likely to seal fourth spot and progression to the last eight.
Bangladesh won the toss and put Scotland into bat – a decision seemingly justified when Calum MacLeod (11) and Hamish Gardiner (19) perished inside the first 10 overs.
Coetzer and Matt Machan (35) shared a third-wicket stand of 78 in 14.1 overs before the latter was caught and bowled by Sabbir Rahman in the 24th over.
An over later Coetzer was raising his bat to celebrate fifty and he and captain Preston Mommsen put on 141 runs in 18.5 overs for the fourth wicket – during which time Coetzer made history by passing three figures, with a huge six off Rubel Hossain, from just 103 deliveries.
Mommsen perished for 39 in the 43rd over with Scotland in the healthy position of 257 for four and, two overs later, Coetzer made history again by becoming the first player from an associate nation to score a World Cup 150.
Coetzer’s majestic innings came to an end shortly after when he attempted to hit Nasir Hossain out of the ground but was caught at deep mid-wicket.
Richie Berrington (26) and Matthew Cross (20) guided Scotland past the 300-run mark in the 48th over before their and Majid Haq’s quickfire dismissals gave the Bangladesh bowlers some reward late on.
Bangladesh’s late success was tempered somewhat by the news that Anamul Haque had earlier appeared to dislocate his right shoulder while fielding and would play no further part in the match.
Bangladesh’s reply started disastrously when they lost Soumya Sarkar – filling in for Haque at the top of the order – at the end of the second over for two when he edged a Josh Davey delivery, which was straying down leg side, behind to give Cross a regulation catch.
Tamim and Mahmudullah steadied the ship with a second-wicket stand of 139 from 21.4 overs as Bangladesh overcame their early setback to remain on target for a successful run chase.
Tamim collected his 28th ODI half-century in the 17th over before Mahmudullah also passed fifty three overs later as the Scotland bowlers were made to toil without reward.
Mahmudullah was extremely unlucky to drag a wayward Iain Wardlaw delivery on to his stumps to depart for a run-a-ball 62 with Bangladesh on 144 for two in the 24th over.
Tamim then misjudged a straight Davey delivery and was given out lbw to restrict Bangladesh to 201 for three.
The batsman immediately chose to review the decision but replays showed that to be a wreckless decision as he was pinned straight in front of the stumps.
Mushfiqur gave Scotland hope when, after compiling 60 from 42 deliveries, he needlessly gave his wicket away by going for the big hit, and skied to mid on as Alasdair Evans picked up his first and only wicket of the match.
Four down and needing 62 runs from the final nine overs, Shakib and Sabbir (42 not out) upped the ante by scoring 32 runs in the next four overs to take the pressure firmly off Bangladesh.
Scotland continued to probe but Shakib and Sabbir’s pinch-hitting – they made 75 runs in 10.1 overs – ensured victory was theirs as Bangladesh reached the match-winning total with almost two overs to spare.