Scotland target World Cup breakthrough

Feb 16, 2015 - 3:03 AM A rejuvenated Scotland are confident they can achieve two notable firsts at the World Cup.

They knock them both off in one hit if they can knock over New Zealand in their opening match at University Oval on Tuesday.

Their Kiwi coach Grant Bradburn says he and the players are conscious they have never won a World Cup game, having contested tournaments in 1999 and 2007.

They have also never beaten a top-tier nation but are getting closer by the moment.

In October they lost by one run to a New Zealand XI, which was virtually a full-strength Black Caps side, in a tour match at Lincoln.

This month their 10-day buildup camp in Sydney included a thrashing of Cup rivals Ireland and a three-wicket loss to the West Indies which could easily have gone their way.

Bradburn says those results have instilled confidence but been frustrating at the same time.

"We're starting to take quality teams a lot deeper into the match," he said.

"If we're contesting games at the sharp end, then we're going to start winning more than we lose.

"We're keeping our feet on the ground, we realise that our challenge is huge but we're targeting every game as an opportunity."

Their best hopes of a World Cup breakthrough will come against Afghanistan, also in Dunedin, and Bangladesh in Nelson.

Bradburn played seven Tests and 11 ODIs as a spinner for New Zealand before a lengthy coaching stint at Northern Districts.

He began his three-year Scotland contract eight months ago and says he inherited a team who are naturally dynamic with the bat and excellent fielders.

Improving their fitness and self-belief has been an early target for Bradburn and assistant coach Paul Collingwood, the former England allrounder, and he reckons both are now at a high standard.

Their batting is led by Sussex professional Matt Machan, hard-hitting opener Kyle Coetzer and South African-born Preston Mommsen.

Seamer Alasdair Evans has made strides in the past year while offspinner Majid Haq is the country's leading wicket-taker.

Source: AAP