SCOTLAND produced the best all-round display of their tour of Australia and New Zealand to crush the Wellington Firebirds in Lincoln.
The Scots, who came within two runs of beating a full-strength New Zealand XI last week, bounced back from Friday's defeat by Canterbury to cruise to a 91-run triumph.
Preston Mommsen, the captain, said: "It was a great team performance today and very pleasing that so many things went right. The way we finished our batting innings was particularly pleasing and our bowlers then did a brilliant job taking wickets early on and that made it very difficult for them to stay in the chase. The fielding was also impressive: probably the best it's been on the tour."
Batting first, Scotland lost Hamish Gardiner and Matt Machan early on but Kyle Coetzer confirmed his return to top-form by finishing top scorer for the second match running. The Northamptonshire batsman, back in his familiar role as opener, composed a well-crafted 66 with nine boundaries, while Mommsen contributed just run fewer.
The lower-order men then cashed in on the platform with Freddie Coleman (39) and Josh Davey (23) scoring at a rapid rate. Craig Wallace, the Forfarshire wicketkeeper/batsman, marked his first game of the tour by hammering 32 from only 12 deliveries with six 4s and a 6 as Scotland posted 277 for eight.
In reply Wellington suffered a major setback when Michael Papps, the former New Zealand and Ayr opener, was clean bowled by Safy Sharif for just two runs. Brady Barnett followed soon afterwards, caught by Wallace off Iain Wardlaw, as the Scots tightened their grip. Despite a battling half-century from Luke Woodcock, Mommsen's men remained firmly in control for the remainder of the match, with Sharif, Davey and Majid Haq all claiming two wickets. The hosts were eventually all out for 186 in the 47th over.
"We haven't quite been able to get over the line in our last couple of games so to get the win today was pretty important," said Mommsen, whose side will aim to end the tour on a high against Otago tomorrow.
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