Saltires stymied by the Aberdeen rain

The result will go down as a nine-wicket success for the county but they were only four runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis target when torrential rain brought proceedings to a premature end.

Earlier rain had already caused a lengthy delay before the Saltires posted a modest 131-5 from their allocation of 23 overs. However, tight bowling meant that Hampshire were forced to work hard for their runs, with Jimmy Adams in particular tied down.

His opening partner James Vince did the bulk of the scoring and his contribution proved crucial in the end. The young England prospect stroked five classy boundaries and a straight six in his 45 before he was well stumped by Gregor Maiden off Preston Mommsen.

At 62-2 the contest could have gone either way, with the D/L target fluctuating in favour of either side. However, Hampshire had moved onto 73-1 - tantalisingly four runs ahead - when a heavy downpour had the final say.

Earlier the Saltires had faced just four overs when their innings was interrupted by a persistent shower. They had already lost Fraser Watts, adjudged lbw to Chris Wood in the first over of the innings, but Kyle Coetzer and Calum MacLeod were beginning to show genuine signs of intent.

These continued after a lengthy break, by which time the contest had been reduced to one of 23 overs a side.

MacLeod improvised his way to a run-a-ball 20 before holing out to Hamza Riazuddin off the bowling of Dimitri Mascarenhas.

However, Coetzer, back in his home town, once again provided the backbone of the Saltires innings.

The on-loan Durham player had already scored four half-centuries and one century for his country this season, and he reached the 50 landmark once again.

Coetzer scored the only two maximums of the Scottish innings, a delightful drive over long-off in Riazuddin's first over, and a massive hit to wide long-on off Liam Dawson. Coetzer recorded two further boundaries in his 54-ball knock before being deceived by a slower ball from Riazuddin which he could only miscue to Michael Carberry at backward point.

Josh Davey laboured for his 19, although the Middlesex man did help Coetzer add 52 for the third wicket - the most substantial partnership of the innings.

There was then a huge sense of anti-climax as Neil McCallum strode out to play his final international innings, only to return to the pavilion moments later having been given out lbw to Imran Tahir for a single.

The late urgency was provided by Luke Butterworth, the Australian contributing a rapid unbeaten 20. However, at 131-5, there was a feeling that the Saltires were at least 20 runs short of a truly competitive total.Afterwards, Coetzer claimed the Saltires were denied by the rain. "You are talking really small margins in these games, especially when the overs are reduced," said Coetzer, who hit his sixth half-century of the season.

"Four runs is all there was in it - so you are maybe looking at the boundary they scored in the last over before the rain.

"You could also look at the ball I hit straight up in the air. If that had gone for a boundary it could have made the difference in our favour.

"But there is no way the game was won when we came off for rain. They still had the runs to score and we would have fought all the way.

"I've been delighted with my form, but I have to pay tribute to the groundsmen who have prepared some great wickets. It was the same today because, despite all the rain, the wicket was in perfect condition." Coetzer also paid tribute to Neil McCallum who announced his international retirement before the game.

He added: "Macca has been a great ambassador for Scottish cricket and a superb example - not just to young players but to all players. Mentally, and work ethic-wise, he was superb and a great guy to have as your team-mate."

The Saltires complete their CB40 campaign with the return match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl on Monday 29 August.