SKIPPER Kyle Coetzer led from the front as Scotland survived a major dose of the jitters at Mannofield to kick-start their World Cup League campaign with an edgy victory over Papua New Guinea.
The home troops needed a win to make amends for their midweek defeat by Oman at the same venue and thanks mainly to Coetzer's 96 and a four-wicket burst by Hamza Tahir on his debut, they scraped through with seven balls to spare.
The home pursuit of 207 began in shaky style when local boy Matthew Cross paid the price for an ambitious onside slog and was bowled for seven.
His fellow opener Coetzer settled into a pleasing rhythm with Calum MacLeod, who enjoyed a reprieve on 27 with a simple catch dropped. But there was no let-off in the 26th over when he holed out to backward square leg.
Suddenly the Scots were in a spot of bother as the normally hard-hitting George Munsey followed MacLeod back to the pavilion with a duck to his name. His demise reduced them to 105 for three with 22 overs left.
Coetzer raised the momentum with the assistance of another old stager, Richie Berrington, and the skipper looked sure to rattle up another vital international ton, but his anticipation turned to acute frustration when he was just four adrift of the magical mark. Assad Vala beat the bat and the ball bent back the off stump with the total on 160 and plenty of work still to do.
And the nerves really began to jangle as Berrington was stumped for 22 and Michael Leask went for 19.
Three runs were needed when Craig Wallace was dismissed, but Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt got them over the line.
Earlier, the visitors had defied the awkward conditions to make a solid start with a stand of 63. Leask made the crucial breakthrough in the 14th over, keeper Cross taking a smart catch to remove Gaudi Toka.
The Forfarshire man struck again when he lured Tony Ura into a big hit, only for clubmate Wallace to safely pouch it in the deep with the score on 70.
Just four runs later, Tahir celebrated his first ODI wicket with the help of Berrington, who expertly held a low drive from Lega Siaka.
PNG halted the rot temporarily, but Scotland regained the upper hand when Sharif shattered the stumps of Charles Amini for a stubborn 32 to make it 134 for four.
Leask then returned to the attack to quickly get rid of Sese Bau and when Tahir trapped skipper Vala, the islanders were reeling on 145 for six.
Tahir's dream debut continued as he clean bowled Chad Soper before Norman Vanua lofted the ball straight to Gavin Main at mid-off.
Watt then got in on the act to make Damien Ravu victim number nine.
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