Leask: Scots are ‘ready to get back on the horse’

Michael Leask believes his sides batsmen will give a better account of themselves when they face Ireland. Picture: SNS

The Stoneywood-Dyce star was the only success of Monday’s dismal seven-wicket defeat, notching his first half-century at this level.

But a total of 172 gave the bowlers little chance to claim a morale-boosting win and Leask said: “The guys can’t wait to get back on the horse – it’s great that there is another game so soon and, hopefully, we can get one over them now.

“Monday’s defeat hurt and we need to start executing what we failed to do in the first game.

“I came in during a rebuilding phase and felt better and more confident the longer I was at the crease.

“It was obviously a nice feeling to get my first ODI 50 but I fell short of what I wanted to get and we can kick on tomorrow. But we will need to show more discipline.”

Coach Grant Bradburn will decide this morning whether to change his starting line-up, with Grange batsman George Munsey and Carlton pace bowler Ali Evans waiting in the wings.

Meanwhile, West Indies wrapped up a 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh before lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test in St Vincent yesterday.

Bangladesh, who were forced to follow-on, resumed on 256 for five but lost their last five wickets for 58 runs to leave the hosts needing only 13 runs to win.

Quick bowler Kemar Roach ended with four for 64 and medium pacer Shannon Gabriel picked up two wickets as West Indies cleaned up the tail.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who helped his team avoid an innings defeat with a determined 116, his third Test century, was the last man to go when he holed out to Darren Bravo at deep mid-wicket off Jerome Taylor.

Openers Chris Gayle and Kraigg Brathwaite then took 16 balls to reach the target. Gayle dispatched the third ball of the innings to the boundary and, after Kraigg Brathwaite followed suit in the next over, the classy left-hander clubbed another delivery to the ropes and then nudged a single to wrap up a comprehensive victory for the hosts. The win means Richie Richardson’s unbeaten start as West Indies coach continues after he guided them to a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day international series after succeeding Ottis Gibson.

His side now have a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and the second Test starts on Saturday in St Lucia.