Richie Berrington hit a 70-ball 70 to help Scotland win their second Twenty20 World Cup in a row, defeating Papua New Guinea by 17 runs on Tuesday.
Scotland is on the verge of making the Super 12 stage after shocking Bangladesh in their tournament opener on Sunday.
Scotland posted 165 for nine after electing to bat first in the round-one match, thanks to a crucial 92-run third-wicket stand between Berrington and Matthew Cross, who hit 45.
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Despite a valiant 37-ball 47 from Norman Vanua, fast bowler Josh Davey returned career-best figures of 4-18 to help bowl out Papua New Guinea for 148 in 19.3 overs.
Berrington stood out with his attacking batting to help Scotland recover from a 26-2 deficit, as well as a stunning one-handed catch off Davey to remove Simon Atai.
He was named match-winner.
In his 49-ball knock, Berrington hit three sixes, one of which was measured at 97 meters — the longest in the tournament so far — and six fours.
After losing wicketkeeper-batsman Cross in his 50th T20 international, he raised his sixth T20 half-century with a straight down the ground.
Papua New Guinea took six wickets in the final two overs, including Berrington’s crucial wicket, and conceded only 15 runs, but Scotland posted their highest T20 World Cup total, surpassing their previous best of 156 v Afghanistan in 2016.
Left-arm quickness Kabua Morea took four wickets, including three in the last over, and Chad Soper took three.
Bangladesh must now defeat Oman in a Group B match later Tuesday to avoid elimination.
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