We're still very positive - Mommsen

On Saturday, Scotland will take on Australia in a one-day international. Last time that happened, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh put on 246 for the opening wicket, still a record ODI opening partnership for Australia. Finch made 148, Marsh scored 151, Australia posted 362 for 3 and Scotland were bundled out for 162.

It does not make pleasant reading for Scotland fans, knowing that a rematch at Bellerive Oval provides Scotland with their only remaining chance for victory in this World Cup. But captain Preston Mommsen, who made 8 that day at The Grange in 2013, said the feeling in the Scotland camp ahead of Saturday's match was one not of trepidation, but excitement.

"We were under-strength that day, missing quite a few county players, and we probably had the wrong mindset going into that game," Mommsen said. "In the end, that probably cost us, and we were nowhere near our best. I think the guys who played in that game have learned from that experience, and there will definitely be a shift in the mindset as we approach tomorrow's game."

The match means plenty to Australia, who must win to qualify in second position in Pool A rather than third or fourth, and Mommsen knows the Australians will show no mercy. Scotland are also without their most experienced ODI player, offspinner Majid Haq, who was sent home after an incident that followed his being dropped for Wednesday's game against Sri Lanka.

"The mood is actually pretty good still," Mommsen said. "We know we haven't won a game, which is very disappointing for us. But we know we still are relatively young when it comes to World Cup experience, and apart from Majid, no one had played in a World Cup before.

"We'll leave this tournament as a stronger and better team, even though we haven't yet had a victory with one game to play. We're still very positive. The guys are in a good frame of mind. Obviously, the incident, that's disappointing from a team point of view. But I can't really say too much more. It is disappointing, but these things do happen, and they'll be dealt with. As a group, we're focused on tomorrow."

Mommsen and Freddie Coleman showed some fight with the bat against Sri Lanka and put on the second century partnership of Scotland's World Cup, after Mommsen and Kyle Coetzer added 141 together against Bangladesh in Nelson. But there have been other encouraging signs for Scotland, including the form of seamer Josh Davey, the second-leading wicket taker this World Cup.

"He's one of these guys who has a knack for taking wickets in difficult situations," Mommsen said. "Just gets thrown the ball, and could easily have a spell where he picks up two or three in the space of two overs. You know, you want guys like that in your bowling line-up. So it's been a brilliant tournament for him."

Wicketkeeper Matthew Cross has also had an excellent campaign, his nimble footwork behind the stumps and sharp glove skills helping him to equal third on the wicketkeeping dismissal tally behind Denesh Ramdin and Luke Ronchi. Cross was at his best with a slick stumping against England, when up to the stumps he collected a Davey delivery wide outside off and whipped the bails off to find James Taylor short.

"His stats are very, very impressive if you look at his catches and stumping behind the wickets," Mommsen said. "I think if you look at his overall career and his strike rate, so to speak, of dismissals per innings, it is very good, up there with the best in the world. I think his stumping against England was up there with one of the best plays in the tournament."