Scotland make it two from two

News

Cricket365
July 19, 2011

Scotland made it two Clydesdale Bank 40 victories in as many days as they beat Warwickshire by four runs in a rain-affected match in Edinburgh.

After seeing off Northamptonshire by just 12 runs on Sunday, the hosts followed it up with another close encounter against the Bears on Monday with Josh Davey pulling the strings. The all-rounder scored a solid 24 and then picked up three wickets as his side kept their nerve for the win.

Scotland, who won the toss and elected to bat first in a game reduced to 22 overs per side to rain, didn't get off the best of starts after Sunday's centurion Kyle Coetzer departed for a third-ball duck to Neil Carter. His opening Calum MacLeod was out lbw to Chris Woakes three overs later.

New Zealander George Worker didn't hang around too long, but he did contribute 27 from 20 balls while Davey's 24 came off 49 balls. Worker was eventually caught behind off Rikki Clarke and Kiwi spinner Jeetan Patel trapped Davey lbw. Preston Mommsen's unbeaten 24 pushed the hosts to a respectable 120 for seven.

Varun Chopra and Neil Carter eased Warwickshire to 28 in six overs before Davey turned the game in Scotland's favour. First he got rid of Chopra for 14 and then he picked up the wickets of Carter, William Porterfield and Clarke in three consecutive overs. Porterfield was bowled for three, Carter run out 17 and Clarke (one) edged a delivery to the keeper.

Woakes and Keith Barker fell for single figures while Jim Troughton offered some resistance with 19. Ant Botha then gave Scotland a scare with a blistering 45 from 24 balls, including three sixes and two fours. The former Ireland player smashed 14 runs off the first five balls of the final over but he was run out off the final ball of the match with five still needed for the win.

Monday's victory helped Scotland to move off the bottom of Group B and into fifth place with four points – one place and four points behind Warwickshire in fourth spot.