Scotland humiliated by Kenya in T20 rout

SALTIRES coach Pete Steindl last night refused to panic after his tottering Twenty20 team slumped to a disastrous ten-wicket defeat against Kenya.

The Saltires, bidding to build confidence ahead of next week's crucial World Cup qualifiers in the UAE, stuttered to just 109-9 at the Gymkhana Ground, Nairobi. And the hosts then raced to an easy triumph with 45 deliveries to spare.

Steindl admitted: "It is hard to take any positives from a game like that. For the first three-and-half overs things were going exactly to plan and we were scoring freely. But then it just went wrong and we simply lost our way.

"Our total was nowhere close to what we needed on a decent wicket and we know there are areas where we must improve."

The Saltires, who needed a sudden-death 'super over' to beat minnows Uganda on Sunday, started brightly with Fraser Watts and Ryan Watson punishing the home attack.

Watts hit two huge sixes in his 16 while Watson plundered three boundaries as they raced to 28-0 in three overs.

However, Watson departed immediately after for 13 before the Saltires lost Watts, Jan Stander and Kyle Coetzer with the total on 47.

Wickets continued to tumble at an alarming rate and it was left to Majid Haq, batting at number nine, to top-score with 21 as Scotland staggered into three figures.

The issue was virtually settled when David Obuya smashed two fours and two sixes as Gordon Goudie's first over went for 20 runs. Obuya went on to finish unbeaten on 60 from 48 balls while Steve Tikolo made 46no.

The Saltires will be back in the nets this morning in a bid to find the winning formula ahead of their return matches against Uganda tomorrow and Kenya on Thursday.

Steindl, whose side have a final warm-up game in Dubai next week, added: "We will not over-react to what has been a bad day.

"The guys know they have what it takes to be successful in this format of the game and we will remain positive."