SCOTLAND suffered a second YB40 defeat in their bank holiday double header but salvaged pride in going down by 14 runs to a classy Surrey outfit at The Grange.
While they had been comprehensively outplayed by Derbyshire on Sunday, the Saltires showed much more spirit and briefly had the county rattled as they threatened to pull off an unlikely run chase.
Needing 238 for victory following Vikram Solanki's excellent unbeaten century, Scotland's young openers found it tough going against the seasoned county attack.
Matty Cross and Freddie Coleman represent the future of Scottish cricket but Surrey's trio of England pace bowlers had experience on their side.
Jade Dernbach and Jon Lewis conceded just 23 runs in the opening power-play overs, the latter bowling Cross for 9.
By contrast, the home bowlers had leaked 49 runs during the corresponding period of the Surrey innings.
The arrival of the tall Chris Tremlett into the attack presented new challenges but Coleman and Ewan Chalmers initially met them head on, the former launching a spirited counter-attack.
Coleman had reached 32, including two lofted drives to the long-off boundary, when Tremlett induced a false stroke and Zander de Bruyn took an easy catch. Chalmers also appeared to be warming to his task, reaching 20 before he was trapped by a Tremlett delivery which kept low.
From 61-1 in the gathering gloom and within striking distance, the Saltires were suddenly on 75-3 and about 25 runs adrift of the par score.
It got worse when a further three wickets fell to leave the home side reeling on 118-6. However, Calum MacLeod and Majid Haq led a thrilling onslaught which briefly raised hopes of a sensational win. The pair added 60 before Haq retired hurt, with MacLeod reaching his half-century with a straight six off De Bruyn.
Gordon Goudie's arrival at the crease saw the attack continue, the all-rounder striking 15 from only six balls for the second time in the campaign.
MacLeod was eventually yorked by Dernbach for an excellent 59 before Haq limped back out to continue his brave assault, finishing unbeaten on 36 as the Saltires fell just short.
Earlier, the Surrey batsmen had given an object lesson in partnership building. The former England duo of Steve Davies and Solanki took their chance to milk the Scottish bowling, bringing up their hundred partnership in 18 overs.
Solanki moved effortlessly to his half-century, stroking six boundaries and hoisting one six over the temporary stand. He finished unbeaten on 109 from 113 balls, with nine fours and four maximums.
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