Hobart, March 14 (IANS): Pacers Mitchell Starc (4/14) and Pat Cummins (3/42) led the charge for Australia by bowling out minnows Scotland for a paltry 130 in 25.4 overs in a cricket World Cup Pool A game at the Bellerive Oval here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat on a lively pitch, the Australia bowlers exploited the conditions to the hilt. Experienced Kyle Coetzer failed to open his account in 11 balls before he fell to left-armer Starc.
Opener Calum MacLeod (22) and Mat Machan (40) had just put up a 28-run partnership for the second wicket and were looking good before MacLeod became Starc’s second victim with the score at 36/2 in seven overs. Thereon, the Scottish batting order totally collapsed.
Skipper Preston Mommsen (0), Freddie Coleman (0), Richie Barrington (1) lost their wickets to Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell, respectively. From 36/2 in seven overs, Scotland were reduced to 51/5 in the 12th over.
Wickets continued to tumble as Cummins removed Machan (40) and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Cross (9) in the 17th over as Australia controlled the match with aggressive bowling.
Cummins took his third wicket in the form of Rob Taylor (0). Josh Davey (26) and Michael Leask (23 not out) stitched a 35-run stand for the ninth wicket before Starc removed the former in the second ball of the 26th over as Scotland stooped to 130/9.
Two deliveries later, Iain Wardlaw (0) had his stumps rattled by Starc and Scotland were bowled out for 130.
Brief scores: Scotland 130 all out in 25.4 overs (Mat Machan 40, Josh Davey 26; Mitchell Starc 4/14, Pat Cummins 3/42) vs Australia.