SCOTLAND lost to the United States in their ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match at Moosa Stadium in Pearland, Texas.
Chasing a victory target of 311, Scotland fell short by 104 runs.
The hosts had earlier won the toss and chose to bat first at the Houston venue, only the second ground in the USA to be accredited for One Day International status.
Opener Steven Taylor made a near run-a-ball 42, hitting seven boundaries, before he was caught by Hamza Tahir off Adrian Neill shortly after the USA had passed the half-century mark.
Captain Monank Patel added 29 to help the total on to 107 for the second wicket, with Sushant Modani’s 77 pushing the USA on towards 200 after the second drinks break.
Aaron Jones was out for 35 in the 40th over, then an unbeaten 60 from Gajanand Singh, who hit eight fours and a six off 39 balls, and Nisarg Patel’s 34 not out saw the USA finish at 310 for five. Neill collected two wickets for 49 in his eight-over spell.
Scotland had won all four of their ODI games in Dubai last month to sit second in the table, but with some 16 games in hand on leaders Oman in the tournament which runs through to February 2023 as part of the World Cup qualification process.
However, their run chase in Pearland got off to a slow start, with just 27 on the board after 10 overs and opener Matthew Cross lasting only 12 balls as he was out for six.
Captain Kyle Coetzer made a resolute 28 and Calum MacLeod added 40, but the run rate continued to creep up as USA bowler Saurabh Netravalkar took four wickets.
George Munsey made his half-century, with 54 off 53 balls, but it was not enough to see Scotland home as the USA, ranked 18th in the world, closed out for a memorable victory.
Scotland, who had won their previous eight ODIs, will play the USA again at Moosa Stadium on Sunday and then face the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
