Royal London ECB under 15 County Cup
Durham v Scotland at Hartlepool CC on Thursday 3rd August 2017 [Scorecard]
This match was a winner take all top of the table clash. Miraculously, after heavy morning rain the match started at 1 pm. Full marks to the ground staff. Scotland won the toss & inserted their opponents on a strip which had sweated under the covers.
Durham were hampered by losing wickets at regular intervals. A particularly important dismissal was the dangerous Bushnell who fell to a spectacular catch by Rafay Khan at mid-off from the bowling of Charlie Peet. From 84 for 5 Hindmarsh (35*) Salkeld and Simpson, carefully repaired the damage to close the innings on 167.
This total was probably 30 runs light due to some excellent death bowling form Tom Bradburn & Jasper Davidson. Astutely set fields combined with intelligent and accurate change ups denied the hosts any boundaries in the last 10 overs.
The visitor’s reply was dogged by falling wickets early on. Tom Bradburn threated with some fluent boundaries until he was brilliantly caught by Bushnell at mid-wicket.
A calm, careful, unbroken 108 run partnership between Tom Mackintosh (80*) and Jasper Davidson (28*) took the Scots over the line for only 3 down. While Davidson rotated the strike Tom Mac took the game to the opposition by accelerating into his innings & putting away the rare bad balls with relish. One six over the clubhouse was particularly memorable.
This victory ensures the Scots a win of this very tight section and a semi-final clash with Leicestershire.
Lincolnshire v Scotland at Scunthorpe Town CC on Friday 4rd August 2017
Scotland came crashing back down to earth one day after progressing in the ECB cup in losing this dead rubber to a Lincolnshire side who had yet to register a victory. The visitors were unlucky in losing an important toss with Lincolnshire electing to bat.
The first innings was a slow affair which stuttered to 133 all out in 48 overs. Lethargic in the field, the visitors did not execute their plans with enough ruthlessness and it was to lead to their downfall despite more excellent finishing spells from Bradburn & Davidson. Jasper was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 25.
Five LBWs and 2 batters bowled tells the story a fraught run chase on a rapidly deteriorating wicket on which the bounce became lower and lower. Full marks to opening bowlers Andrews (4 for 18) & Starbuck (2 for 23) who bowled stump to stump to maximise the return from the difficult batting conditions.
Only Asad Khan mastered the conditions with a pugnacious & determined 36 which gave the Scots some hope but he was last out with the total on 101.
