Cricket: Scotland fall agonisingly short against North West Dragons

Published on 29/10/2012 02:06

SCOTLAND suffered a second dose of last-over misery against North West Dragons in Potchefstroom, South Africa, yesterday.

The Saltires were looking to square their T20 series after Friday’s one-run defeat. However, they again failed to find the killer instinct – this time falling four runs short.

Coach Pete Steindl admitted: “It was a very close game and frankly one that we should have won. I felt as if we controlled the game for about 95 per cent but there were just a few areas where we weren’t ruthless enough.

“It sounds simple, but if you don’t execute your skills and plans across the full 40 overs you’ll come up short.”

Chasing the Dragons’ 160, Sussex star Matt Machan led the way with an enterprising half-century. And Middlesex all-rounder Josh Davey was also in the runs with 41.

However, the tourists fell behind the required rate with Preston Mommsen and Majid Haq unable to score the 12 runs needed from the final over, the Scots closing on 156-3.

Earlier, Machan was also the pick of the Scottish bowlers, claiming 2-26, while fellow 
spinners Haq and Michael Leask also impressed.

Steindl added: “Matt got us off to a great start but unfortunately got starved of the strike at a crucial time. We let the rate creep up and in T20 that can be costly. If we execute over the whole game we’ll start winning the close ones and when we do that we won’t look back.”

Meanwhile, the Sydney Sixers made light work of the Highveld Lions as the Australian side cantered to a 10-wicket win in the Champions League Twenty20 final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg yesterday.

Chasing the Lions’ 121 all out, Sydney raced to 124 without loss with Michael Lumb smashing his way to a thrilling 82 not out off just 42 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

Sydney, who went through the tournament unbeaten, received $2.5 million for winning the world club event while the Lions claimed $1.3 million as runners-up.