Cricket: Gavin Hamilton bows out on a high as Saltires beat Foxes again

AN era and a losing sequence ended at Mannofield yesterday as Gavin Hamilton bowed out of international cricket and the Saltires completed an unlikely double over Leicestershire.

Hamilton chose this latest Clydesdale Bank 40 clash to bring down the curtain on an illustrious 132-cap career.

The former England and Yorkshire star was restricted to just 23 runs on a day when Scotland's batting again appeared to have under-performed.

However, in a rain-affected clash in Aberdeen the Saltires fought back superbly as the Foxes fell 13 runs short of their revised target of 114 from 21 overs.

Hamilton admitted he feared his last international was set to fizzle out like a damp squib. But 35-year-old was left hailing the fireworks that produced a memorable win over Leicestershire.

The Saltires could muster just 166-9 from their forty overs but fought back to win by 12 runs. And Hamilton revealed it was a perfect - if unexpected - end to his career.

He said: "A couple of hours ago I feared it was going to be a pretty horrible end. I thought we were staring at another defeat but the way the guys turned things round was fantastic.

"It was an absolutely electric performance in the field and shows how much fight there is in this squad."

Hamilton, Scotland's leading ODI run scorer, was restricted to just 23 in his final innings but added: "It is a perfect way for me to end because the result is always more important than any individual performance.

"But to go out with a win is of course very special on what has been a pretty emotional day for me. I love the Mannofield ground and I will enjoy the memory of this occasion and all the other great times I've had playing for Scotland."

While on Saturday, the Saltires were dismissed for 164, here they managed two runs more and had one wicket intact. However, despite two interruptions to their innings, the visitors were still clear favourites to exact revenge for their defeat at Grace Road in May.

Instead Matty Parker set the tone for an exhilarating display in the field when he had Jacques du Toit caught be George Bailey in the second over.

James Benning launched a counter-attack with a fighting 41 but the Saltires already had the scent of victory. Majid Haq struck a significant blow when he trapped James Taylor in front while fellow spinner Ross Lyons had Greg Smith caught at long off by Bailey.

The two slow bowlers conceded just 32 runs from their combined nine overs as Scotland piled on the pressure.

Wickets continued to fall while the run-rate rose and in the end the margin of Scotland's victory was comfortable.

The day had begun less auspiciously when Scotland found themselves in deep trouble and in danger of recording their lowest total of the campaign.

With the score on 50-5 Leicestershire looked capable of dismissing their rivals for less than the 95 they managed against Warwickshire last month.

Four lbw verdicts went against the Scots to suggest a return to the bad old days when officials routinely ruled in favour of the county professionals.

Certainly, at least two of the four could be questioned with Fraser Watts astonished to see Ismail Dawood raise his finger in response to Harry Gurney's half-hearted shout. Watts departed for a single, leaving Ryan Flannigan and Hamilton to battle their way through some testing new-ball bowling.

However, having done the hard work on his way to a painstaking 34-ball 13, Flannigan lasted just two deliveries against the wily left-arm spin of Claude Henderson who trapped him in front.

Hamilton's dismissal was less clear cut and even more disappointing for most of the Mannofield crowd.

The veteran batsman had managed two boundaries - a glorious extra cover drive and a neat leg glance - in his 23 but was also sent on his way when Mr Dawood upheld Benning's appeal.

Hamilton walked off for the last time to applause from spectators who were acknowledging a glorious career as much as this sadly truncated final effort.

With Bailey and Dougie Lockhart following in quick succession, the Saltires were in dire straits with half their batsmen back in the pavilion. However, Richie Berrington led a fightback as the Saltires threw themselves a slim lifeline.

Berrington struck four boundaries in his 46. However, looking set for a fourth half-century of this CB40 campaign, he miscued Henderson to Taylor at deep mid-wicket, presenting the bowler with a fourth wicket in his last over.

Berrington helped the Scots into three figures and the momentum was taken on by Gordon Drummond (19) and Haq whose 29no included the only six of the innings.

On Saturday the Saltires had been outplayed by Hampshire.

Bailey top-scored with 43 in a total of 164 before half-centuries from Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine helped the Royals race to an eight-wicket win with almost nine overs to spare.

SCOTLAND

F Watts lbw b Gurney 1

R Flannigan lbw b Henderson 13

G Hamilton lbw b Benning 23

G Bailey b Henderson 4

R Berrington c Taylor b Henderson 46

D Lockhart lbw b Henderson 1

M Parker b Benning 15

G Drummond c Boyce b Gurney 19

M Haq not out 29

G Goudie b Malik 1

Extras (b1 lb5 w8) ......................................................14

Total (for nine, 40 overs) 166

Fall: 1-1, 2-42, 3-46, 4-46, 5-50, 6-92, 7-121, 8-151, 9-166.

Bowling: Malik 8-1-39-1, Gurney 8-1-29-2, Benning 8-0-33-2, Henderson 8-1-25-4, Naik 8-0-34-0.

LEICESTERSHIRE

J Benning run out 42

J du Toit c Bailey b Parker 0

J Taylor lbw b Haq 11

G Smith c Bailey b Lyons 4

W White not out 27

M Boyce c Flnnigan b Drummond 2

C Henderson b Parker 1

T New run out 7

J Naik not out 5

Extras (lb1 w1) ..............................................................2

Total (for seven, 21 overs) 101

Fall: 1-6, 2-44, 3-57, 4-60, 5-70, 6-78, 7-93.

Bowling: Goudie 4-0-20-0, Parker 4-0-25-2, Drummond 4-0-23-1, Lyons 4-0-15-1, Haq 5-0-17-1.

Scotland won by 12 runs (D/L)