Saltires beaten in CB40 opener despite Mommsen's heroics

SCOTLAND were defeated but not disgraced by Durham in their CB40 opener at Chester-le-Street yesterday. A sparkling 73no from Preston Mommsen allowed the Saltires to set a challenging 215, before a spirited display in the field pushed the county stars almost all the way.

However, Mommsen was ultimately upstaged by home hero Gordon Muchall, whose unbeaten 95 carried the county to a five-wicket victory with ten balls to spare.

With their tails still up after Mommsen's late onslaught at the conclusion to their own innings, the Scots were given a further boost when Matty Parker struck in the first over. The dangerous Phil Mustard had made just a single when he attempted to cut through the offside only to pick out the safe hands of Richie Berrington at backward point.

However, a stand of 67 in just eight overs between Kyle Coetzer and Ben Stokes put the County firmly on course.

Stokes, the great new hope of English cricket, hit a couple of lusty blows off Luke Butterworth and when Coetzer repeated the dose, the Saltires' Australian recruit was removed from the attack.

The introduction of Josh Davey bought immediate reward when the on-loan Middlesex player induced a false shot from Coetzer who holed out to Gordon Drummond at mid-on for a well-compiled 27.

Stokes went on to complete a damaging half-century from only 40 balls before he became Davey's second victim, caught at deep mid-wicket by Butterworth. Muchall was next to step into the breach - decisively so - as Durham remained up with the asking rate.

Scotland, though, stuck to their guns, and enjoyed a further success when Berrington produced a remarkable one-handed catch to remove home skipper Dale Benkenstein off Mommsen.

When Mommsen struck again with a return catch to dismiss Ian Blackwell, the game was evenly poised and visiting spectators dared to hope that this might be Scotland's - and Mommsen's - day.

Instead Muchall, supported by Gareth Breese, struck ten fours and a six as Durham eased home.

Earlier, the Saltires suffered two mini-collapses, yet emerged with credit thanks to two partnerships of substance. Their day got off to the worst possible start when Gregor Maiden edged the second ball of the match from Graham Onions to wicket-keeper Mustard.

It was the first of three wickets for the England seamer, who struck again in his next over to remove Ewan Chalmers.

The Watsonians batsman had scored a brilliant century at Lord's on Thursday but he was brought back to earth when Breese held on to a marvellous catch at second slip. Worse followed when Davey was trapped in front to leave the Scots reeling on 16-3.

However, a half-century stand between Ryan Flannigan and Berrington put them back on an even keel before the next spate of wickets undermined the recovery.Flannigan, starved of the strike early on, moved smoothly to 39, helped by consecutive boundaries off Blackwell, a well-timed sweep and the cheekiest of late cuts. However, the Watsonians man took one liberty too many to give the left-arm spinner his revenge, and he was quickly followed by Berrington, who was bowled for 31 by Breese, and Butterworth, who was needlessly run out for six to leave the Saltires precariously placed on 93-6.

However, Mommsen and Haq added 77 before the latter, having stroked 30, was brilliantly caught by Coetzer at deep cover. Mommsen, though, produced some sustained hitting in reaching a superb unbeaten 73 from only 54 balls.

The Carlton man reached his first half-century against county opposition in the grand manner when he clipped Onions over mid-wicket for a maximum. Onions' next delivery was dispatched over long-off before Mommsen hit boundaries off the final three balls of the innings.

Gordon Goudie also weighed-in with a couple of lusty blows as Scotland added 94 runs in the final eight overs.

They continue their campaign in a televised fixture against Leicestershire at Grace Road today.