Scottish cricket was given another boost yesterday when the second string cruised to a comfortable NatWest Trophy win over Dorset at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, to earn a lucrative third-round tie with Surrey, writes William Dick.
It was another highly accomplished performance as the Scots proved too slick for one of the strongest sides on the Minor County circuit.
Replying to Scotland's 245-7, the visitors were rarely in the hunt before falling well short.
Yet the day had started badly for Dougie Lockhart's side when, in the first over, Bryn Lockie nibbled at an outswinger from Steve Forshaw and was caught behind for a duck.
However, Aussie Corey Richards joined Rennie Keith in a solid stand of 62 before Keith, beginning to look dangerous on 24, mis-timed a full toss from Viv Pike to give the leg-spinner a straightforward return catch.
Richards, having announced his arrival with a glorious cover drive for 4, continued to punish anything short or wide from the Minor County bowlers.
The West of Scotland pro brought up his half-century from 70 balls with six boundaries and went on to top-score with 70.
Instead of going on to dominate, however, the Australian found himself pegged back by some tight bowling in the later part of his innings, while skipper Lockhart, attempting to increase the scoring rate, danced down the track to Pike and was smartly stumped for 17.
Drew Parsons briefly promised fireworks before spooning a simple catch to the keeper off Peter Deakin and, with Richards another victim of the off-spinner, it was left to Craig Wright and Colin Smith to bring the Scottish innings to life.
The big-hitting pair put on 57 for the sixth wicket, both players peppering the boundaries. West's Wright had two mighty 6s and three boundaries in his 39, which came off only 27 balls.
However, Aberdeenshire's Smith was even more punishing, plundering his way to a brilliant undefeated 48, which included three 6s and two 4s.
Eighty-two runs from the last eight overs enabled the Scots to set a challenging total of 245-7.
They looked in total command when Wright struck to have Dorset in trouble at 17-2.
Classy opener David Miller and Julian Cassell helped rally the visitors with a fighting stand of 57. Miller went on to top-score with 41 from 92 balls, while Cassell had the satisfaction of hoisting Marty Hay over mid-wicket for 6 before being bowled by Richards.
However, when Miller was sent back to the pavilion, trapped in front by Gregor Maiden, Dorset's hopes went with him.
Wright went on to earn the Gold Award with a third wicket to add to his quickfire innings.
SCOTLAND
R Keith c & b Pike ..................................... 24
B G Lockie c M Miller b Forshaw ............... 0
C Richards b Deakin .................................. 70
B Lockhart st M Miller b Pike ................... 17
D Parsons c M Miller b Deakin .................. 20
C Smith not out ........................................... 48
C Wright c Deakin b Pyman ...................... 39
S Gourlay c Eliot-Square b Forshaw ............ 7
D Cowan not out ........................................... 6
Extras 14. Total (for 7, 50 overs) ............... 245
DORSET
D Miller lbw b Maiden .............................. 41
N Thurgood lbw b Wright ........................... 2
P Deakin c Smith b Wright ......................... 4
J Caffell b Richards ................................... 24
I Stuart run out ............................................. 7
R Pyman c Lockhart b Cowan ................. 23
C Holcomb b Maiden .................................. 1
M Miller lbw b Wright ................................ 4
E Eliot-Square not out ............................... 20
V Pike c Richards b Gourlay ...................... 8
S Forshaw b Hay .......................................... 2
Extras 29. Total (47 overs) ...................... 165
PPP healthcare County Championship
At Derby. Derbyshire 90-1; Northamptonshire 270. At Chelmsford. Yorkshire 308-7 v Essex. At Old Trafford. Nottinghamshire 181; Lancashire 96-6. At Lord's. Middlesex 220-8 v Hampshire. At Taunton. Somerset 334-3 v Leicestershire. At Hove. Gloucestershire 256-8 v Sussex. At Edgbaston. Warwickshire 305-6 v Worcestershire.
NatWest Trophy, Second Round
Wales 250-9; Derbyshire 198.
Devon 267-6; Berkshire (R) 199.
Staffordshire 256-8; Durham 257-6.
Herefordshire 211-9; Wiltshire 13.
Sussex 209-9; Hertfordshire 213-3.
Essex 196-9; Ireland 200-8.
Kent 250-3; Worcestershire 245-7.
Lancashire 122; Holland 126-0.
Cumberland 207-9; Middlesex (R) 114.
Hampshire 217; Shropshire 216.
Cheshire 171-9; Surrey (R) 162.
Yorkshire 91; Buckinghamshire 92-3.
Other Match: Glamorgan 392-5 dec; Oxford University 10-0.
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