BRIDGETOWN, March 3: Scotland suffered a 61-run defeat in their opening World Cup warm-up game against a Barbados Select XI on Saturday. The home side made 296-9 at the 3Ws Oval despite excellent bowling from spinner Majid Haq, who claimed 5-37.

Haq fell cheaply at the start of Scotland's reply and they fell well short despite 43 from Dewald Nel.

Glenn Rogers was one of three members of the Scotland squad allowed to play for the Barbados XI and he undermined the run chase with figures of 3-32. Dougie Brown made a useful 36 and Ross Lyons hit an unbeaten 28 but Scotland were all out for 235 with five of their 50 overs still remaining.

Despite the loss, team spokesman Mike Stanger said it was a useful work-out ahead of their first official World Cup warm-up against Sri Lanka on Monday. He said: "It was good for the players to get a game in. There were some very good things and some not so good things, but it was a training match. Obviously we are hoping to be on our mettle for the first of the official warm-ups against Sri Lanka and we expect to be.”—Agencies