Fine start ends badly for Saltires

Gavin Hamilton will stride out at Mannofield this afternoon, looking for a valedictory epitaph to a Scotland career that has spanned the generations of amateur and professional cricket.

Many will remember Broxburn's finest for the dramatic fall that followed his rise. He deserves better than that. It would be fitting if his final performance in a Saltires jersey, against Leicestershire in the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40, his principal traits of obduracy and simplicity see his bat raised once more.

The penultimate of his 132 international caps for his native land brought only frustration yesterday. With Scotland opting to bat first against Hampshire in Aberdeen, Hamilton arrived with the hosts jolted on 4-1. He ground it out for an hour and one minute, making 19 runs at a dawdling pace before departing. He has never been a natural limited-overs player but there is much to admire in his application. One hopes the knowledge of two decades will not be entirely lost to the Scottish game.

"Coaching is something I'll look at," he revealed. "But I want to step back from this for a couple of years." The commute from Bradford has become too arduous but he will continue to play for East Bierly, his long-time local sanctuary. "I'm not quite done yet," he said. "I've still got a couple of years left in me so I'll keep playing for them."

He will be missed further north. Hampshire bowled out Gordon Drummond's men for 164 with George Bailey's 43-run stand deflecting rather than repelling the visitors' offensive. Led by Chris Wood's haul of 4-33, England's Twenty20 champions calmly chased down the victory required to keep their hopes alive of a place in the semi-finals. Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine each gathered half-centuries as their side coasted to an eight-wicket victory with 8.2 overs in reserve.

Scotland, seeking to set a tougher target for their southern guests, were undone by their most traditional failing. Too often, they appear unable to capitalise on promising starts. Fraser Watts casually nudged towards Liam Dawson at short mid-wicket on 16. Hamilton was stumped when set fair. So too Richie Berrington and Dougie Lockhart.

Embattled on 79-5, it summed up just why the Saltires will likely end up bottom of the pile once their involvement in the ECB's 40-over competition comes to a close next week. Aspirations must be higher than to remain as perennial basement dwellers. For that, more of Hamilton's ilk must emerge.

Australia has them by the dozen. Bailey, the Tasmanian captain, has not shown the kind of form in the British summer that might earn him an Ashes call-up but he contributed here when there was no longer margin for error.Yet even when he punctured the Royals attack by driving Ervine for six to long-on, the momentum was lost, next ball, when Matty Parker edged behind on 23 when he looked ready to increase what was his best one-day score still further. Bailey continued but with seven overs remaining, he let his guard down as ball eluded bat. The tail was left to reap what it could. Gordon Goudie reached 11 while Majid Haq hung on for 13 before the Scots were all out with just four balls left.

Scotland gambled but lost their shirts. When Goudie snared James Vince on 9, it was an aberration. Ervine and Adams pressed onward. As one boundary followed another, the hosts fell deeper into the mire. When Ervine, on 63, drilled to Parker at long-on, the Royals were just 25 runs short. However, with Adams hitting an unbeaten 74 and Neil McKenzie adding 14, it was a stroll in the sunshine. l Cricket Scotland's board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to send their team to Zimbabwe later this year to fulfil an Intercontinental Cup tie.

Scotland 164, 39.2 overs, lost to Hampshire 165-2, 31.2 overs, by 8 wickets