Hampshire resist Bailey challenge

Hampshire 237 for 9 beat Scotland 206 by 31 runs
Scorecard

Scotland batsman George Bailey gave Hampshire a scare with an aggressive 90 before his team subsided to a 31-run defeat at the Rose Bowl in Clydesdale Bank 40 group C. Bailey, who captains Tasmania's side when he goes home, put on 118 for the second Scotland wicket with Omer Hussain to unsettle Hampshire.

But once Bailey had gone, caught at the wicket by Nic Pothas off James Tomlinson, Scotland lost their way and the momentum he had created. Pothas chose to bat first and Hampshire compiled 237, overcoming the early loss of Michael Lumb without scoring and Michael Carberry with only six on the board.

Consistent James Adams led Hampshire's recovery in a stand of 84 for the third wicket with Sean Ervine. Adams was Hampshire's top scorer with five fours and a six in his 57 and there were useful middle-order contributions from Neil McKenzie, Pothas and Dominic Cork.

Pace bowlers Gordon Goudie and South African-born Richie Berrington were the pick of the Scottish attack, Goudie taking 3 for 54, plus a run out of Ervine. Berrington finished with figures of 4 for 47 as Hampshire completed their revival from a shaky start.

But for a time it did not look as if Hampshire's total would be enough as Bailey and Hussain put on 118 in 23.1 overs for the second wicket. Bailey was in rampant form, striking six fours and two sixes, before his dismissal led to a Scottish anti-climax.

Tomlinson removed Berrington one run later and four wickets fell for the addition of 10 runs with a middle order collapse. Tomlinson finished with 3 for 33 but Hampshire were held up by a brave stand of 32 for the eighth wicket between Gordon Drummond and Majid Haq.

However, Hampshire never allowed Scotland to threaten to do to them what they had done to Leicestershire earlier in the campaign. Scotland battled to the end, needing 32 off the last over, but left arm pace bowler Chris Wood removed Goudie and last man Ross Lyons to leave Haq marooned on 27 not out when the last wicket fell at 206 from the penultimate ball of the match.

Earlier Hussain had kept pace with Bailey in making a useful 42 but Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath made the breakthrough when he had the Scotland opener lbw and then soon afterwards Herath put pressure on Bailey by sending back Gregor Maiden without scoring.

Scotland have now lost four of their five matches and travel to Kent on Monday for their next fixture badly needing another win.