SCOTLAND must win their remaining three pool games to stay in the hunt for a place at the ICC World Twenty20 next year.

A 37-run defeat by Afghanistan yesterday – following their reverse against Holland on Saturday – means they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

Mohammad Shahzad led the way with a blistering 75 from 36 balls, smashing seven of the Afghans' 17 sixes as they posted 210-5 in Edinburgh, their record Twenty20 score.

Preston Mommsen (44) and Matthew Cross (37) batted gamely for the Scots, but hopes were dashed when skipper Mommsen holed out in the 17th over and the tail folded with little resistance for 173 all out in the final over.

Afghanistan top Pool B with three wins, while Scotland are fourth in the seven-team section, with Kenya next up tomorrow.

The Scots are unlikely to go straight into the semi-finals which assures qualification, with their aim now being to reach the play-offs that give them two chances to reach the top-six spot they need to head for India next year.

Despite the defeat by Afghanistan, head coach Grant Bradburn remains optimistic, saying: "They were two very good performances from our opposition, and we want to be playing our best cricket at the sharp end of the tournament, it is as simple as that.

"T20 is a completely different game and we were left chasing slightly too many on both days. It was a tough ask and everything had to go for you – I was very proud of the batting performance in both games.

"You don't have to dig too far to see where we need to sharpen up, unusually our fielding has not been at its peak. We have spilled catches and that has cost us.

"T20 cricket, you are going to be on the end of some big hidings, what matters is how you respond. Everybody is going to get the tap from time to time, those are fantastic experiences for our attack.

"We have played three tough sides, but it has been good for us to have such a hard week, I'm sure we will only grow from these games.

"There is pressure on for 120 balls of every T20 game and we have to take every one as it comes, and looking to be better for every experience. We have lots to get our teeth into, reflect on and grow from."