England Humble Scotland One day International
Fresh from their historic triumph in the T20 World Championship, England warmed up for a busy limited over season, in the English summer by trouncing lowly Scotland by seven wickets in a one-off One day International played at Edinburgh.
For the Scottish team it was a great opportunity of assessing their progress in the limited overs given the lack of opportunities that has plagued their progress in the game.
On the other hand teams like Ireland, The Netherlands and Afghanistan have leapfrogged the Scottish team, which is well below the rankings of Afghanistan and Ireland who have both been granted official One-day status.
The toss was won by the hosts at the Grange Club cricket ground, Raeburn palace in Edinburgh and the Scottish decided to bat first on a batting friendly track.
However they received an early jolt when opener Watson was sent packing by James Anderson in the opening over of the match, Watson was caught by Graeme Swann.
Skipper Gavin Hamilton and Coetzer joined hands for an enterprising second wicket stand that yielded 86 runs in 18 overs.
Coetzer was dismissed by left-arm spinner Michael Yardy in the 19th over of the innings.
Coetzer struck the only half-century for the hosts; his innings was studded with 8 hits to the fence, and came off 76 balls.
Davey was the next one to go; he was also dismissed by Michael Yardy, who was in the middle of a good spell.
Yardy got his third wicket of the innings when he dismissed Berrington or a mere 4 runs, Berrington was held by fast bowler Stuart Broad.
Hamilton who was leading the Scottish team was dismissed for 48 runs, dismissed by Swann, who was stumped by Craig Kieswetter.
McCallam was the next one to go, he was dismissed by Paul Collingwood, the hosts then crashed from a substantial position losing their last five wickets for the addition of a paltry 63 runs.
Wicket-keeper batsman Lockhart held the lower part of the innings together with a fighting 46 that came off 53 balls and included two fours.
The hosts were bowled out for 211 in the last over of the innings; Michael Yardy was the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets, while Graeme Swann, James Anderson, and Ajmal Shahzad claimed two wickets apiece.
The visitors came out all guns blazing on the inexperienced, Scottish attack by slamming quick runs at the top of the innings.
Andrew Strauss struck one delightful boundary after another, and he got great support from Craig Kieswetter on the other end.
The two added 121 inside the first 15 overs, going at more than 8 runs per over. Strauss was the first one to be dismissed; he scored 61 off 43 balls striking 12 boundaries in his enterprising knock.
Kieswetter carried on in the same attacking vein, smashing 69 runs off 65 balls, his innings included 8 fours and 2 sixes.
The wicket-keeper was dismissed in the 20th over of the bowling of the Lions. Kevin Pietersen struck three boundaries in his rapid fire 17 off 18 balls, but was dismissed by an elated Haq, when Watson took a catch of KP’s bat.
Paul Collingwood, who was the captain of the POMS in their T20 triumph, took his team to victory with Irishman Eoin Morgan.
Collingwood was unbeaten on 38 off 38 balls, his innings was studded with three fours and one six.
Eoin Morgan on the other hand remained undefeated on 24 of 35 balls, including 2 fours.
The visitors won the match in the 34th over of the innings, in what was a good build up for them ahead of a tough summer.
England would be playing ten one-day matches at home against the Australians, and Pakistanis would be relying on the same set up of players that have started off on a positive note against the Scottish team.
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