Cricket: Scotland brush aside Foxes in emphatic county victory

Hamilton's troops were a class above their professional counterparts at Grace Road, restricting them to 217 for seven off their 40 overs – thanks mainly to seamer Gordon Goudie.

The 22-year-old led the Saltires attack, finishing with figures of three for 45 as 55 and 51 from Jacques du Toit and James Taylor respectively saw the Foxes post a very reachable total.

Scotland slowly but surely set about the run chase with 54 from Australian George Bailey and 51 from Richie Berrington anchoring the innings to set up a tense finale.

The Scots needed ten to win off the last over and eased home after a bowling miscalculation by Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard saw teenager Nathan Buck handed the ball.

Neil McCallum – 13 years Buck's senior – took full advantage, dispatching the Foxes youngster to all parts as they reached 218 with two balls to spare.

Scotland welcome Kent to the Grange this weekend for their second Clydesdale Bank 40 fixture and Hamilton believes securing back-to-back victories is a possibility.

"To be honest, it is no secret that as a nation and a team we have struggled over the past year but this win sums up all the hard work that has been put in by everyone," said Hamilton.

"Everyone was superb against Leicestershire. We set our stall out and our bowlers gave our batsmen a great chance to win the game.

"I will always take ten to win off the last over, no matter what format of the game, and we set our stall out to keep up with the rate which we did.

"We had plenty of wickets in hand and I always felt it was our game to win.

"We go into every game looking to win and I believe in what we have.

"We have set the bar high now but I think we will maintain our level of performances and pick up some more good results."

Former England international Hoggard won the toss and decided to bat but the Foxes never really got going and underlined why they have won only one Clydesdale Bank 40 game.

Du Toit reached 50 off 70 balls with three fours and a six before hauling out to Bailey off the bowling of former Scotland skipper Ryan Watson – who ended with figures of two for 34.

Taylor notched his half-century two balls quicker than du Toit but, once he was run out by Watson with the score at 141 for three off 29 overs, Leicestershire laboured to 217.

Former England keeper Paul Nixon's 34 off 34 balls offered hope but Goudie, ably supported by Gordon Drummond and Watson, restricted the hosts.

And Scotland's batsmen clearly took heart from their bowlers' performance with captain Hamilton putting on 38 with Watson for the first wicket before falling to Buck for 16.

Bailey and Berrington offered stability after Watson was dismissed by Hoggard for 24 and Omer Hussain was cleaned up by Joshua Cobb for 18.

Tasmanian Bailey reached 50 off 67 balls while Berrrington took just 51 deliveries, however, neither could see the win through falling to Andrew McDonald and Claude Henderson respectively.

But with McCallum coming to the crease there was little doubt and he bludgeoned his way to 27 off 19 balls while Majid Haq's run-a-ball 11 was equally as important.

And Berrington echoed his skipper's comments at the close of play, insisting Scotland won't be resting on their laurels for the remainder of the tournament.

"It was a really good team performance – our bowlers started very well and our batsmen backed that up," said Berrington.

"I have been working really hard on my game and it is nice to get a few runs – I am enjoying my cricket and I want to carry on my form and the team's now.

"I was a bit disappointed I got out so close after getting my half-century but that gives me something extra to work on."

GRANGE

Hairs c Flannigan b Paige102

Patel b Routray18

Coles c Chalmers95

Maiden c Flannigan b Paige32

Taylor b Paige10

Smith c Paige b Chalmers7

Worth run out1

Rae not out1

Thomas not out0

Extras: 20

Total (for 7 wickets) 286

Bowling: Paige 3-47

WATSONIANS

Flannigan c Thomas b Wilson28

Easton c Worth b Thomas38

Weston c Smith b Worth11

Chalmers st Smith b Hairs51

Wright b Hairs69

Stubbs b Coles9

Cairns run out8

Paxton lbw b Wilson16

Paige st Smith b Worth1

Routray st Smith b Worth3

Sadler not out3

Extras: 28

Total (all out)265

Bowling: Worth 3-37