Scotland Give Pakistan A Scare

Craig Wright's largely amateur side had already overcome three county sides during their debut season in the National League while the tourists arrived with a number of new faces in their line-up.

And despite posting a disappointing 169 after being sent into bat, the Scots produced a brilliant fightback which saw them go close to victory.

Indeed, only a fighting unbeaten 52 from man-of-the-match Shoaib Malik prevented Pakistan slumping to a humiliating defeat.

The Scots' batting effort never recovered from a shattering double blow which saw Ryan Watson and Rahul Dravid dismissed from successive Shabbir Ahmed deliveries.

Only five runs were on the board when Watson was easily taken at first slip by Younis Khan to pave the way for Dravid's entrance. However, Dravid received an unplayable delivery which caught the inside edge of his bat to be brilliantly held by the diving Rashid Latif.

It was left to Greig Williamson and Jon Kent to effect minor repairs in a stand of 47. But, neither batsman was able to go on and make a big score with Kent's promising knock ending on 27 when he got the faintest of edges to a Bilal Asad delivery.

Clydesdale's Williamson treated the crowd to one huge six over midwicket on his way to a top score of 36 but the Scots were always kept in check, especially by off-spinner Shoaib Malik whose 10 overs yielded three for 17.

Paul Hoffmann raised hopes of a Scottish fightback by having Mohammad Hafeez caught by Williamson in the third over of Pakistan's reply. And there was a hint of jitters when Kent had Yasir Hameed held by Watson at second slip to leave the tourists on 18 for two.

Despite a spirited counter-attack from Imran Nazir who raced to 38, the Scots refused to buckle and continued to make inroads with a Wright double strike and another from Kent which reduced the tourists to 102 for five.

In the end only Shoaib Malik's 98-ball knock denied the Scots as Pakistan scraped home with one wicket and 3.1 overs to spare.

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