Coetzer century fires Scotland win
Kyle Coetzer's century earned Scotland a first win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 season against Northamptonshire in Edinburgh
17-Jul-2011
Kyle Coetzer's century earned Scotland a first win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 season against Northamptonshire in Edinburgh. Opening the innings, the sometime Durham batsman was the mainstay of the hosts' 223 for 7 after they had been put in. Niall O'Brien led the Northants reply with 81 but they came up just short and were edged out by 12 runs.
Coetzer put on 28 with opening partner Fraser Watts (12) and then received steady support from Calum MacLeod, who made 33 in a second-wicket stand of 93. MacLeod fell to David Willey (three for 49) and Josh Davey went cheaply, but Preston Mommsen gave the innings some impetus with a muscular 32 from 21 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Safyaan Sharif added 13 not out as Coetzer powered on, reaching a 98-ball hundred before eventually falling to the penultimate ball of the innings. He made 122 from 109 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes.
Northants made a sedate start, openers Stephen Peters (21) and Ben Howgego (12) failing to engage top gear. O'Brien changed that, the Ireland wicketkeeper making 81 from 75 balls, though his innings contained only six boundaries.
He put on 102 with Rob White before the latter was stumped off Majid Haq for 40 from 48 balls.
Bilal Shafayat's cameo was entertaining but all too brief and when O'Brien was run out it appeared Northants' last hope had gone.
James Middlebrook went down fighting with an unbeaten 22 from just 12 balls but the visitors could only reach 211 for 6 as Scotland broke their duck.
