SCOTLAND lost the opening match of their CB40 campaign as a combination of a top order batting collapse and a torrential hailstorm led to an 18-run win for holders Surrey on the D/L method.

Set a revised target of 183 from 38 overs following a rain delay, the Saltires slumped to 66-5. However, a half-century stand between Richie Berrington and Majid Haq had given them a glimmer of hope before the temperature dropped and the heavens opened. They still required 65 runs from nine overs but, with Berrington on 43, the Saltires were in contention.

The collapse had looked improbable when Fraser Watts and Calum MacLeod took the score to 26. That included a 'five' from MacLeod before he chased a wide one from Dernbach and gave Steve Davies an easy catch.

Josh Davey lofted a simple chance to Gareth Batty on 2, then South African debutant Jean Symes fell lbw to Matthew Spriegel for a duck.

Watts and Berrington managed to take the total to 58 before Watts, established on 25, was teased out of his crease by Spriegel and Davies completed the dismissal. Preston Mommsen added six before prodding a soft catch back to Batty.

Berrington and Haq added 50 as the D/L target came within reach. But, having reached 17, Haq guided Batty's delivery to Rory Hamilton-Brown at short cover. His departure was the signal for the storm that left Berrington high – if not dry – on 43 and frustrated at missing out on the chance to finish the job.

Earlier the Saltires had made the breakthrough in the second over through Matty Parker. The Forfarshire pace bowler has had to remodel his action following hip surgery but still had the pace to trap Hamilton-Brown on five. Parker struck again in his next over, catching the edge of Jason Roy's bat for Craig Wallace to take a good catch.

Jacques Rudolph and Davies took the score to 60 but Davies fell to a spectacular diving catch by Drummond at mid-on from Davey.

Rudolph anchored Surrey's innings with a half-century, but the Scots chipped away at the other end, with Mommsen taking a sharp return catch to remove Zander de Bruyn with his first delivery. Haq took the wicket of Spriegel, who spooned an easy catch to Symes, and when the spinner also ended Rudolph's vigil, Surrey were 151-6 with four overs remaining.

Surrey's tail added 36 runs, with Batty hitting the only six of the innings.

Pete Steindl, the Saltires coach, felt the weather had robbed his team of a big opportunity.

"We're disappointed not to get the chance to finish the job, he said. "I felt we were still firmly in contention and Richie Berrington was playing a really good innings. He looked in the mood to see the job through."

However, Steindl admitted the top order collapse had left the Saltires playing catch-up. "You always put yourself in a precarious position losing early wickets like we did, especially when D/L is a factor. From being 10 runs behind the rate you can suddenly be 25 off the pace if you lose a wicket or two.

"I think we could have been a bit more ruthless at the top but it is difficult for batsmen coming from Scottish Cup matches on Saturday to facing the CB40 holders 24 hours later.

"We were solid in several departments and our bowling and fielding was much more disciplined than towards the end of the T20 qualifying campaign. We are looking to improve every time we play."

Weather permitting, the Saltires continue their campaign against Notts at the Citylets Grange today.