Scots battle to impressive victory over Leicestershire

Pete Steindl's new-look side went into their opening Clydesdale Bank 40 clash of the season as no-hopers with a largely experimental side. But, having restricted the county stars to 217-7, the Saltires secured a thrilling four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

The platform was set by Australian George Bailey and man-of-the-match Richie Berrington who both hit half-centuries before the coup de grace was provided by the nerveless Neil McCallum.

Scotland were given a steady start by Gavin Hamilton and Ryan Watson before Bailey and Berrington put on 56 for the fourth wicket.

Bailey showed his class with one effortless straight drive off Matthew Hoggard on his way to 54, but he played across the line to be bowled by compatriot Andrew McDonald leaving Berrington to take charge.

The young Greenock man rose to the occasion with 50 at a run-a-ball, only to depart in a similar fashion to Bailey.

The Scots made life difficult for themselves and were left needing 19 from the final two overs, but Grange batsman McCallum, supported by Majid Haq, made light work of the task with a brilliant unbeaten 27.

He hoisted ex-England hero Hoggard's final delivery out of the ground for a six to leave ten required from the last over.

Haq then flicked a four to fine leg and took a quick single leaving McCallum to hit back-to-back boundaries off rookie Nathan Buck to seal a thrilling victory.

Earlier the selectors handed a debut to Neil Laidlaw

and the York Cricket Club bowler should have had the perfect start with a wicket in his first over but a regulation slip catch was put down by Watson to give Greg Smith a lucky reprieve.

Watson atoned when he held a much sharper chance as Gordon Goudie made the breakthrough to remove Smith.

There were ominous signs when Jacques du Toit opened out to spoil Laidlaw's promising start with boundaries over backward square leg and long off.

Goudie, too, came in for punishment when du Toit launched a mighty six over cow corner before a spate of wides further damaged the Saltires' cause.

James Taylor, the young England Academy batsman, then pulled Berrington's first delivery out of the ground as the Foxes threatened to post a huge total.

However, Steindl had called on his players to show their battling qualities and they responded with some superb ground fielding.

Du Toit and Taylor put on 105 for the second wicket but took more than 20 overs to do so and were separated when Du Toit hit Watson to Bailey at long on.

Watson was constantly in the thick of things and he soon removed Taylor with a superb direct hit that caught the batsman inches out of his ground.

Goudie, who claimed five wickets against Michael Clarke's tourists last season, then showed his liking for bowling at Australians when his slower ball deceived the dangerous McDonald.

The same bowler brought an end to Paul Nixon's improvised run-a-ball 34, courtesy of Bailey's safe hands.

Leicestershire's hopes of accelerating in the closing overs were dashed when Watson yorked Josh Cobb and then Bailey completed a hat-trick of catches to remove Tom New and give Gordon Drummond a deserved wicket.