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NCL2- Somerset too strong for Scots

Saturday, May 8 2004

Somerset enjoyed a comfortable victory over the hosts at Raeburn Place today to maintain their impressive start to the season in the shorter version of the game, and in the process left Scotland rock bottom of the table.

Jamie Cox called correctly and had no hesitation in electing to take strike on a wicket that last year was graced by Rahul Dravid, but it was Australian-born seamer Paul Hoffmann who struck twice to peg Somerset back after a steady if unspectacular start.

Hoffmann removed openers Francis and Gazzard before taking a blow, coming back to nip out West Indian Nixon McLean at a personal cost of just 27. Somerset had Cox and Parsons, who both made rapid half-centuries, to thank for being able to post a more than competitive 248-7 from their 45 overs.

McLean had Scotland on the back foot right from the off, clean bowling John Williamson for a duck and followed up by having Robert More caught behind in his opening burst.

A partnership of 74 between Sridharan Srinam (35) and Ryan Watson (45) gave the home side hopes of pulling off a shock victory, but the run out of Sriram precipitated a collapse of alarming proportions. In all, the last seven wickets were winkled out for just 69 runs, thanks largely to Keith Parsons who took three wickets, as Scotland stumbled and stuttered their way to 193 all out.

Somerset 248-7 (Parsons 53, Cox 51, Hoffmann 3-27)
beat
Scotland 193 all out (McLean 3-31, Parsons 3-42) by 55 runs


Posted by Eddie