SALTIRES captain Fraser Watts praised Gordon Drummond's nerves of steel after the least sung of the Scottish seamers bowled an immaculate final over to seal a dramatic two-run victory over Lancashire.
Scotland performed miraculously to defend just 155 against a side containing five full internationals and Drummond came up with the goods to complete the Saltires' third successive victory at Old Trafford.
Watts said: "Gordon was brilliant at the
end and it just shows that he has got the ability, skill and bottle to play at this level. He has worked so hard and he got his just deserts. It was also a brilliant effort from all the boys.
All of the bowlers bowled out of their skins and the boys fielded brilliantly so it was a magnificent effort."
After rolling over the Saltires for 73 in the previous meeting a little over a week ago, it came as no surprise that Lancashire skipper Stuart Law elected to field first after winning the toss.
Kyle Hogg took two wickets in four balls before Ed Cowan and Colin Smith gave the Scots a platform with a third-wicket stand of 67: Smith facing 57 balls for his 35 which included an emphatic six over midwicket and Cowan 90 balls for his 41.
From there Lancashire's experienced attack bled the scoreboard dry as Steven Croft completed career-best figures of 4-18 and Andrew Flintoff conceded just 18 runs from his ten-overs
A total of 155-9 was moderate at best and, at the halfway stage, the Saltires didn't seem to have a prayer. But suddenly the bowlers had other ideas and they tore through Lancashire's star-studded batting line-up with a sensational exhibition of controlled swing and seam.
The carnage began as Dewald Nel and John Blain accounted for one opener apiece early on. And they continued to trade wickets as Nel's magic ball demolished Mohammad Yousuf's castle, and Stuart Law followed caught behind by Smith.
Things quickly got better as Nel trapped dangerman Flintoff in-front before Craig Wright joined the attack to immediately dismiss Francois du Plessis and Croft, leaving the Lightning innings in tatters at 46-7.
A partnership of 69 between Luke Sutton and Kyle Hogg seemed to have rescued the home side before captain Watts held a fine one-handed catch to dismiss Sutton. Hogg reached his 50 in 84 balls, with six fours and a six, but when Simon Marshall was run out Lancashire still needed 20 with one wicket remaining.
Eight were needed off the final over and four off the final ball but Drummond held his nerve to bowl out a thrilling two-run victory.
The full article contains 452 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
