CB40 Cricket: Somerset have too much power for Saltires

By WILLIAM DICK
Published on 20/08/2012 01:17

SCOTLAND’s CB40 campaign ended in familiar disappointment – and rain - as Somerset cruised to a comfortable win at Bothwell Castle Policies yesterday.

Having collapsed to 75-6, the Saltires salvaged some pride by reaching 163. However, the county stars had more than enough firepower and were 53 runs ahead of the required rate when the elements fittingly brought a premature end to a disappointing campaign.

Safyaan Sharif, having batted well earlier, marked his first appearance of the season by giving Scotland early hope during Somerset’s reply.

Sharif had just been hit for a flat six by the aggressive Peter Trego when he induced a false shot, the balling looping to Majid Haq at fine leg.

Trego’s onslaught brought him 15 runs in rapid time and his departure brought welcome respite.

Sharif and new-ball partner Ali Evans were, however, inclined to struggle for a consistent line and length and Arul Suppiah and Chris Jones were quick to cash-in.

Meanwhile, the introduction to the attack of Jean Symes was the signal for Suppiah to demonstrate that he can be every bit as destructive as Trego, the opener launching a huge straight hit out of the ground as well as two powerful fours in Symes’ first over.

Jones and Suppiah took the total to 90 before the former edged Majid Haq to Preston Mommsen while Suppiah plundered 56 from just 45 deliveries. He became Haq’s second victim, bowled behind his legs, as the Saltires rallied.

They had, though, left themselves with too much to do and the sight of England prospect Jos Buttler launching Haq over the beech hedge at wide long-on before hitting Symes for four boundaries in an over hastened the end.

Somerset had reached 133-3 in the 23rd over when rain made its entrance with Buttler on 29 from only seventeen deliveries.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Saltires had been given a reasonable start by Ryan Flannigan and Calum MacLeod only for both to fall to soft dismissals with the total on 22. Flannigan was first to go when a leading edge presented Trego with a simple return catch.

MacLeod followed in the next over when he attempted to sweep Steve Kirby but moved too far across and lost his leg stump.

Playing on his home ground MacLeod had looked the part with two crunching drives through the covers but his dismissal left Scotland requiring urgent repairs.

Sadly, they were not to materialise as a series of batsmen came and went with depressing regularity.

Richie Berrington’s one-hundreth appearance for his country was cut short when he was clean bowled by Robert Mutch, a former Freuchie overseas player.

The left-arm seamer also accounted for Symes though not before the South African had plundered two sixes in his 19.

Ewan Chalmers and Craig Wallace were outfoxed by the left-arm spin of Jack Leach and Abdur Rehman respectively as the Saltires reached a low point of 75-6.

There was a glimmer of hope when Mommsen and Gordon Drummond added 26 for the seventh wicket only for a needless run-out to account for the captain.

Mommsen went on to top-score with a well-compiled half-century and was joined in the highest partnership of the innings by Sharif.

Indeed Sharif produced a contender for shot-of-the-match with an exquisitely timed drive to the extra cover boundary on his way to 20.