BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Reuters) — South African captain Graeme Smith led his team into the second round of the World Cup with a convincing seven-wicket win over Scotland in their Group A match yesterday.Chasing 187 for victory, Smith scored a commanding 91 as South Africa cruised to 188 for three with more than 26 overs to spare.

Scotland’s 186 for eight surpassed their previous highest World Cup score, made in 1999 against Australia, by five runs.

After dispatching the Scots and the Netherlands with the minimum of fuss, South Africa will meet Australia on Saturday to determine which team will carry two points into the next phase of the competition.

The only downside for the South Africans was when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini’s return to action was cut short. He left the field in the 40th over of Scotland’s innings.

Ntini, playing his first match in the World Cup after being on paternity leave, pulled up while bowling his ninth over.

He completed the over and left the field to receive treatment for what the team spokesman said was cramp.

Ntini, the spearhead of the attack, did not return, leaving South Africa to complete a disciplined but not particularly inspired bowling performance.

Medium pacer Andrew Hall took three for 48, while Shaun Pollock was the most economical bowler with his return of one for 25 from 10 overs.

The Scotland batsmen struggled to score freely until the latter overs of their innings, when Dougie Brown and John Blain shared a brisk seventh-wicket stand of 50.

Brown top-scored with 45 not out and Blain made 23.

Smith and AB De Villiers (62) kept the South Africans locked on their victory course with an opening stand of 134, both surviving chances during their hefty partnership.

De Villiers was 18 not out when he was dropped by stand-in captain Ryan Watson at short mid-wicket off medium pacer Blain.

Watson missed out on a catch offered by his former schoolmate Smith on 38.

The South African openers were eventually separated when De Villiers heaved a delivery from left-arm spinner Rogers to long on for Brown to take the catch.

Smith was dismissed two balls before the end of the match when he drove a delivery from off-spinner Majid Haq into the hands of Rogers at mid-on.

Justin Kemp (12 not out) hit the winning runs with a straight six off Rogers.

Scotland were without captain Craig Wright, who returned home following a death in his family.

“The World Cup is really starting for us now, we had to get the first job done and we’ve done that,” Smith told a news conference.

“The next couple of days will be important for our planning going into the game. We’re a very confident bunch of guys, each guy has had a good workout in these two games and we’re running solidly.

“Both teams have a fair amount of match-winners and experience and it’s all about who performs better on the day and who takes their chances.”

The two points from the victory in that match will be carried through to the next Super Eights stage of the event.

Smith said South Africa no longer played in Australia’s shadow as they once did.

“We’ve come a long way against Australia, there isn’t that fear factor any more,” he said. “There’s a lot of respect on both sides of the fence.

“It’s going to be a cracking game and hopefully we can perform well in it.”

Smith said yesterday’s match had been made more significant for his team by the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, a former South Africa coach, in Jamaica on Sunday.

“The guys meant to put in a good performance for Bob and we’re glad that we did that,” he said.