SCOTLAND went down fighting in the opening encounter of their double-header against Hampshire yesterday.
The Saltires may still be seeking their second win of this CB40 campaign but a six-wicket defeat was still an improvement on last week's limp showing against Durham.
In the end the difference may well have been two improbable catches held by the hosts and a straightforward one which was dropped by the Scots. Defending a low total of 230, Gordon Drummond's side made the ideal start, with the Saltires' captain finding the edge of Jimmy Adams' bat and Calum MacLeod catching at slip. Drummond then trapped James Vince in front to reduce the county to 15-2.
However, the in-form Michael Carberry, who top-scored with 76 against Uddingston, survived a strong lbw shout to Matty Parker. The left-handed opener then edged a shot between the wicketkeeper and slip before being dropped in the same over by Jean Symes.
It was to prove costly for the Scots as Carberry took full advantage of his good fortune, blazing his way to 50 runs with nine boundaries. It was enough to put the county side back in charge, especially when Simon Katich helped Carberry add 100 in 90 just balls.
"You can't give a guy like that chances, especially in the form he is in, and expect to win," said Drummond. "I think he has scored at least 50 in every game and he made us pay. If we'd got him early and reduced them to 40-3 we would have been able to put a lot more pressure on them."
Scotland, however, did compete gamely and had their reward when Katich edged Matty Parker to Craig Wallace to depart for 41. The Forfarshire bowler had a further success when Sean Ervine was caught by MacLeod.
However, Carberry continued to punish the visitors. He finished the match unbeaten on 148 having faced just 120 balls and stroked twenty boundaries.
The Saltires also showed good form with the bat. In danger of collapse at 97-5, they rallied with an enterprising 80-run stand between Preston Mommsen and Majid Haq. The pair first steadied the ship and then opened out to take 20 runs from the first over of the batting power-play, though only 18 followed from the next three. By then Mommsen had gone, holing out two short of a half-century, having stroked four boundaries and a six.
"We fought back well with the bat," said Drummond. "In the past we might have been all out for 160 after being five down for 90-odd but Preston and Maj batted beautifully."
Scotland
J Davey c Vince b Griffiths 24
C MacLeod c Katich b Mascarenhas 12
J Symes c Bates b Ervine 22
R Berrington c Bates b Mascarenhas 15
P Mommsen c Dawson b Briggs 48
F Coleman c Bates b Ervine 5
M Haq not out 53
C Wallace lbw b Briggs 7
M Iqbal lbw b Briggs 0
G Drummond c Bates b Wood
M Parker not out 11
Extras (b1 lb5 w17 nb10) 33
Total (for nine, 40 overs) 230
Fall 1-37, 2-37, 3-65, 4-77, 5-97, 6-177, 7-189, 8-189, 9-201
Bowling Mascarenhas 8-1-32-2, Wood 7-0-58-1, Griffiths 8-1-61-1, Briggs 8-0-35-3, Ervine 6-0-23-2, Dawson 3-0-15-0 Hampshire
M Carberry not out 148
J Adams c MacLeod b Drummond 0
J Vince lbw b Drummond 5
S Katich c Wallace b Forfarshire 41
S Ervine c MacLeod b Parker 5
L Dawson not out 27
Extras (b4 w2 nb2) 8
Total (for four, 36.1 overs) 234
Fall 1-5, 2-15, 3-121, 4-131
Bowling Drummond 6-0-38-2 ,Parker 6-1-31-2, Davey 6-0-40-0, Berrington 5-0-49-0, Haq 7.1-0-36-0, Symes 6-0-36-0
n Scotland last night confirmed they have turned down the chance to face Bangladesh at home during their European tour. The Bangladeshis had wanted to organise a T20 match next month. Instead, the Scots will take them on in the Dutch town of Voorburg on July 24.
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