ICC World Twenty20 qualifier, Abu Dhabi:
Afghanistan 131-7 (20 ovs) beat Scotland 117-9 (20 ovs) by 14 runs
Match scorecard

McCallum, Scotland's top scorer, was run out in Abu Dhabi

Scotland must beat Ireland by a convincing score on Thursday to have a chance of reaching the ICC World Twenty20 after defeat by Afghanistan.

The Scots suffered a surprise defeat by the USA in their opening qualifying pool game on Tuesday and followed that with a 14-run loss to the Afghans.

Ireland later defeated the USA by 78 runs to keep the Scots in the hunt.

But Gavin Hamilton's side must defeat Ireland and hope that the Afghans beat USA to have a chance on run rate.

Such a scenario would leave the Afghans top and the other three vying for the second spot in the semi-finals after one win and two defeats each.

Afghanistan, who opened with a win over the Irish, posted a total of 131-7 against the Scots in Abu Dhabi.

However, Hamilton's side could only muster 117-9 in reply.

Scotland began well against the Afghans, with Gordon Drummond taking two wickets in the second over.

Afghanistan recovered and Noor Ali top-scored by hitting 41 before becoming one of three wickets taken by Kyle Coetzer, while Mohammad Shehzad added 30.

Coetzer was out for two and fellow opener Navdeep Poonia went for a duck as Scotland made a disastrous start.

Hamilton, with 32, and Neil McCallum, with 38, steadied the ship, but the Scots never looked like reaching the run-rate required.

Drummond and Simon Smith fell in the penultimate over as Afghanistan sealed their place in the next round.

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