SCOTLAND’s World Cup qualifying hopes suffered a blow last night as rain again took its toll.

The Saltires were due to host Canada in the first of a World Cricket League double header at Ayr today.

But torrential downpours yesterday morning left officials with no choice but to announce an early call-off.

Ironically, the fixtures have already been moved from the Citylets Grange, Edinburgh, which was left under several feet of water by storm damage at the weekend.

And there are already doubts over the second match which is due to go ahead tomorrow (Wed) with a reserve day on Thursday.

The Saltires had hoped to bounce back from two defeats against the UAE in February.

Two wins would have seen them leapfrog the Arabs and go second top of the eight-team table from which two sides will automatically qualify for the 2015 World Cup.

Instead yesterday’s KO means Scotland and Canada were awarded one point each, leaving the Saltires a point behind the UAE having played one game more.

Coach Pete Steindl admitted: “The weather is a massive disappointment but it is one thing we can’t control.

“What we can do is keep the players focused so that they are ready to play when we get the chance.”

Today’s ODI is the latest victim of a rain-ravaged season which also saw all four days of last week’s I-Cup clash with Canada washed-out.

CB40 matches against Glamorgan and Surrey have also fallen to the weather while domestic fixtures have been decimated with only four of a scheduled 64 games completed in the last four weeks.