Cricket: Saltires falter after promising start as Notts cruise to victory

By WILLIAM DICK
Published on 23/07/2012 00:00

SCOTLAND’s hopes of completing a CB40 double over Notts were dashed in the Trent Bridge sunshine as the county cruised to an easy 88-run win.

The Saltires will have to raise their game by several notches if they are to have any chance in tomorrow’s T20 international against Bangladesh.

Chasing 266, the Saltires made a promising start, their cause aided by Darren Pattinson limping off after bowling just two balls. Josh Davey looked in prime form with a series of well-timed shots. However, having made 27, the Middlesex all-rounder suffered the most unfortunate of dismissals when Gurney managed to divert Calum MacLeod’s drive onto the stumps with Davey out of his ground.

MacLeod was next to go when he was stumped by Chris Read and, at 50-2 in the 12th over, the Saltires were already falling behind the rate.

The promotion of Gordon Goudie to pinch-hit was a qualified success, the Stoneywood-Dyce player managing the biggest six of the day. However, his cameo knock was cut short on 21 when he was bowled by White’s well flighted left-arm spin.

A procession of batsmen then came and went in quick succession. Richie Berrnigton fell to a fine return catch by Adam Voges while Jean Symes, having reached a promising 34, was run out. There was some defiance from Ryan Flannigan who hammered 38 from 25 balls with two huge sixes before falling while attempting another big hit.

It all added up to a fifth consecutive CB40 defeat. Yet, the Saltires’ day could not have got off to a better start when Goudie trapped Michael Lumb with the first ball of the match.

However, the county side quickly moved into gear and a stand of 82 between Alex Hales and James Taylor in just 12 overs changed the complexion of the game. It took the introduction of Symes to secure a second breakthrough when Hales, having made a run-a-ball 37, was stumped by Craig Wallace

Majid Haq, as usual, was the Saltires’ most economical bowler conceding just 32 runs from his eight overs and claiming the wicket of Taylor who took a ridiculous liberty with a reverse sweep which looped off the top edge of his bat to Davey.

Taylor, though, had played his part with an accomplished 68 featuring eight boundaries.

The England Lions batsman, though, was merely the warm-up act for Samit Patel and Voges who piled on the runs during a stand of 86 in just ten overs.

Their onslaught included the four batting power-play overs from which 43 runs were plundered. The Trent Bridge crowd were willing the popular Patel to a century but, having reached 82 from 76 balls, he was bowled by Goudie who claimed 3-44.

Patel had stroked six fours and two maximums while Voges bettered his colleague’s six count by one in an unbeaten 64 from only 39 deliveries.

Scotland simply could not match such firepower.