At the start of this match, West Indies had a NRR of +0.50. They were helped in the inflation of the NRR by the Australians (see adjacent box).

However, New Zealand finished the day with a NRR of +0.58 and made the grade, much to the Aussie and Windies' disappointment.

Today at the picturesque 150 year-old Grange Cricket Club, the Kiwi camped whooped in delight when skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss, and elected to field.

Scotland, the whipping boys of this group, were immediately in trouble as they lost three quick wickets before their hero, Gavin Hamilton (20) along with Ian Stanger added 52 runs before succumbing tamely to Nathan Astle.England, who had discarded Hamilton from the World Cup 15, are already ruing that decision. Hamilton, in place of Graeme Hick, would have fetched them the Super Sixspot.

Scotland made just 122 runs despite some great support from their fans. The atmosphere was truly festive with the kilts, and the bagpipers played all day long. The New Zealanders needed to make the target in 21 overs. According to our scorer, had the Kiwis done it in less than 14 overs they might as well have taken the second place ahead of the Aussies!

They opened the batting with pinch hitter Mathew Hart (a bowler who was not used today). He was out second ball. The Kiwis also lost Nathan Astle (11), Craig McMillan (19) and skipper Fleming (7) early. But Roger Twose (54 n.o.) and Chris Cairns (20 n.o.) saw them through in 17.5 overs. For once the Scottish fans cheered a team that beat theirs. May be even they felt that Australia's tactics at Old Trafford on Sunday was just not cricket.

Group B: Scotland vs New Zealand

Scotland

MJ Smith c Cairns b Nash 1 14 0/0
MJdeG Allingham c Fleming b Allott 2 25 0/0
G Salmond lbw b Allott 1 13 0/0
GM Hamilton cAllott b Astle 20 49 2/0
IM Stanger c Astle b Cairns 27 58 1/0
JE Brinkley c Parore b Allott 0 6 0/0
JG Williamson c & b Harris 10 24 0/0
AG Davies c sub (Vettori) b Harris 24 48 3/0
JAR Blain lbw b Harris 0 1 0/0
Asim Butt c Twose b Harris 10 10 0/1
NR Dyer not out 2 8 0/0
Extras (b1, lb7, w13, nb3) 24.
Total (all out, 42.1 overs) 121
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Smith, 3.4 ov), 2-11 (Salmond, 6.6 ov), 3-12 (Allingham, 10.1 ov), 4-66 (Hamilton, 24.4 ov), 5-68 (Brinkley, 26.4 ov), 6-68 (Stanger, 27.2 ov), 7-100 (Williamson, 35.1 ov), 8-100 (Blain, 35.2 ov), 9-110 (Asim Butt, 37.2 ov), 10-121 (Davies, 42.1 ov).
Bowling: Allott 10-3-15-3 (1w), Nash 10-3-16-1 (1nb), Bulfin 6-0-31-0 (1nb, 2w), Cairns 8-0-26-1 (1nb, 3w), Astle 5-1-18-1 (2w), Harris 3.1-0-7-4 (1w).

New Zealand

MN Hart b Blain 0 2 0/0
NJ Astle c Davies b Blain 11 10 1/0
CD McMillan c & b Hamilton 19 27 2/0
RG Twose not out 54 495/1
SP Fleming b Blain 7 7 1/0
CL Cairns not out 20 16 1/1
Extras (b1, lb2, w5, nb4) 12.
Total (4 wickets, 17.5 overs) 123
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Hart, 0.2 ov), 2-19 (Astle, 2.3 ov), 3-81 (McMillan, 11.5 ov), 4-92 (Fleming, 12.6 ov).
Bowling: Blain 7-0-53-3 (3nb, 2w), Butt 5-0-33-0 (1nb, 2w), Hamilton 5.5-0-34-1.