NELSON: Opening batsman Kyle Coetzer became the first Scottish player to make a World Cup century on Thursday in the game against Bangladesh.

Coetzer reached the landmark in style with a huge six, his second of the innings at Saxton Oval. He was eventually out for a personal best 156 while anchoring Scotland's record World Cup total of 318 for eight.

It was the 30-year-old Coetzer's second ODI century following his ton against Afghanistan in 2013.

“The guys at the other end were scoring and that took the pressure off me,“ Coetzer said, adding he took “a calculated risk by hitting a six to go to a hundred.“

Since playing in the World Cup for the first time in 1999, it has taken Scotland 16 years and 12 matches to have a batsman score a century and for the team to post a total in excess of 300.

Although Scotland found it easy batting on the Saxton Oval strip, Coetzer said there was enough life in the pitch for the bowlers to give Scotland a chance of pulling off their first World Cup win.

“The odd one is holding up out there and if we put the ball into the right areas, there is enough there.“