SCOTLAND's cricketers came a distant second as the first phase of their CB40 campaign ended yesterday in a comprehensive 89-run defeat to Hampshire.
On a day when the sun finally shone, the scene was set for the Saltires to sparkle. Instead, they produced their most disappointing performance of the season, particularly in making just 131 with the bat after dismissing their visitors for 220.
Indeed, the run-chase never got going after Kabir Ali claimed two wickets in as many balls. Josh Davey had hit two boundaries in a rather laboured 13 before he had his off-stump uprooted, while Ryan Flannigan was trapped in front.
At 28-2 after nine overs, Scotland were in danger of falling fatally behind the required rate. Their problems intensified when Calum MacLeod, having made 16, embarked on a suicidal single and was run out.
There was some resistance from Jean Symes who top-scored with 33 while Preston Mommsen and Craig Wallace also attempted to inject some urgency.
However, the sad fact is that the Scots were never in contention against a slick county attack for whom Kabir Ali and Danny Briggs excelled.
Earlier, the Saltires produced a fine display in the field after struggling initially to contain the runs against the free-scoring line-up.
Gordon Drummond made no excuses for his side's meek surrender. "Considering we came into this game with loads of confidence it is a major disappointment," he said. "Poor bowling in the first 10 overs has allowed them to get off to a flier and put us on the back foot.
"There was a bit in the wicket early on but we didn't hit the right areas and gave them too many easy boundaries.
"Having said that, I thought we turned things around well and it was a decent effort to bowl them out.
"I thought we had a chance of chasing 220, but we maybe didn't show enough aggression.
Scoreboard
Clydesdale Bank 40, Group B, at Uddingston
Scotland v Hampshire
HAMPSHIRE
M Carberry c Wallace b Drummond 76
J Adams c Wallace b Drummond 33
J Vince b Haq 21
S Katich lbw b Haq 6
S Ervine b Haq 0
L Dawson c Drummond b Mommsen 16
C Wood lbw b Davey 4
M Bates c Symes b Davey 2
K Ali b Symes 32
D Briggs c Berrington b Symes 17
D Griffiths not out 1
Extras (lb6 w6) 12
Total (39.4 overs) 220
Fall 1-66, 2-107, 3-117, 4-117, 5-141, 6-156, 7-162, 8-178, 9-219, 10-220 Bowling Parker 3-0-19-0, Evans 3-0-20-0, Drummond 6-0-28-2, Davey 8-0-49-2, Haq 8-0-42-3, Symes 6.4-0-32-2, Mommsen 5-0-24-1 SCOTLAND
J Davey b Ali 13
C MacLeod run out 16
R Flannigan lbw b Ali 0
J Symes c Ali b Wood 33
R Berrington c Ali b Griffiths 9
P Mommsen c Wood b Dawson 22
M Haq b Carberry 3
C Wallace run out 16
M Parker b Briggs 10
G Drummond not out 1
A Evans lbw b Briggs 0
Extras (lb6 w2) 8
Total (33 overs) 131
Fall 1-28, 2-28, 3-41, 4-58, 5-94, 6-100, 7-104, 8-130, 9-131, 10-131 Bowling Ali 6-0-17-2, Wood 7-0-31-1, Briggs 8-1-31-2, Griffiths 5-1-14-1, Dawson 5-0-24-1, Carberry 2-0-8-1
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