Davey's 5 for 9 sets bowling record in uplifting win over Afghanistan

JOSH Davey yesterday produced a record-breaking performance as Scotland restored pride with a convincing win over Afghanistan at Cambusdoon, Ayr.

If Monday's ten-wicket defeat had been a low point of the season, this easy six-wicket triumph, which squared the two-match series, was uplifting.

Aberdeen-born Davey, who regards himself as a batting all-rounder, wrote himself into the record books as a bowler, claiming remarkable figures of 5-9.

His effort was largely responsible for Scotland dismissing their rivals for just 120. The Middlesex man's 5-9 eclipsed John Blain's previous Scotland ODI record of 5-22 against the Netherlands two years ago.

Scotland suffered a couple of hiccups in knocking off the runs with Gavin Hamilton and Ryan Flannigan both going cheaply in an awkward 11-over spell before lunch.

Davey then became a victim of the splendid Hamid Hassan, but Richie Berrington and Fraser Watts staged a 60-run partnership to hasten the end.

Berrington began to recapture his early season form with a fluent 33, while Watts completed his second half-century in as many days. The Carlton batsman stroked four boundaries in his unbeaten 55 as Scotland won with 16 overs to spare.

A jubilant Davey said: "I had no idea it was a record until our physio came into the changing room and said the scorers upstairs were saying it was the best-ever. It's obviously a big thrill for me, but, to be honest, I regard myself as a batting all-rounder more than a bowler.

"I was just trying to get five wickets, but getting the record is a bonus. It was a complete turnaround for the whole team after the disappointment of losing so heavily to them on Monday."

Coach Pete Steindl, who had slated his players after Monday's ten-wicket defeat, was thrilled with the transformation. He said: "Everything that went wrong on Monday went right today. It was simply a case of sticking to our plans, executing our skills and playing with intensity. The bowlers and fielders did that and it was obviously a special performance by Josh."

Earlier the Scots were given the best possible start when Gordon Drummond, taking the new ball, struck with the first delivery of the day.

Karim Sadiq had given Scotland the runaround a day earlier with a superb 114, but he could only edge a rising delivery into the gloves of Dougie Lockhart.

Sadiq's fellow Monday centurion, Mohammed Shahzad, was next to go as the Scots seized control. Shahzad was lucky to survive one confident lbw appeal off Matty Parker, but three deliveries later the Forfarshire paceman got his reward when he ripped out the batsman's middle stump.Thereafter Davey went on his record-breaking way with a superb display of controlled seam bowling.

The Middlesex youngster had managed just one wicket in his previous three ODIs, but he claimed 4-9 from his first seven overs. Davey took sharp return catches to dismiss skipper Nawroz Mangal for six and Javed Ahmadi on 25. He then trapped Asghar Stanikzai lbw and had Mohammed Nabi caught at short mid-wicket to send the Afghans into disarray on 49-6.

A stand of 46 between Noor-ul-Haq and Samiullah Shenwari stemmed the tide before Ross Lyons had the former caught. Lyons sent down nine tidy overs to claim 1-16 while Majid Haq endured a bit of punishment from Shenwari who hit five boundaries and a six in his top-score 46.

However, Davey took just two deliveries of his second spell to have Shenwari caught by Hamilton at square leg to wrap up the Afghanistan innings for 120.