Scotland beat Canada 281 to 272 in their League 2 match on Thursday. The result keeps the hosts second in the table while Canada remain fifth. Three points shift the gap between them to nine.
Scotland had been in mixed form recently, losing to the USA and Nepal in their last two outings. They bounced back against Namibia before this game, winning 186-187 at the death. Canada came into the fixture with only one victory in their previous five matches, including heavy defeats to Afghanistan and New Zealand.
The total of 553 runs suggests both sides let the game flow. By then, the result was less about dominance and more about who held their nerve in the closing stages. Scotland's 30 points from 20 games put them in a comfortable position, while Canada's 21 points from 21 matches show they are struggling to find consistency.
And here's the thing — this result doesn't change much in the wider picture. Scotland stay clear of the relegation zone, and Canada remain five places adrift. The table goes out of the window in these games, but points matter when the season runs long.
Scotland's recent record shows they can raise the tempo when they need to, as their victory over Namibia demonstrated. Canada will need to turn things around quickly if they want to climb away from fifth place. The margin of nine runs leaves plenty of room for recovery.