Brown's heroics not enough for Scotland

On a cloudy, humid morning at the 3Ws Oval, Jason Haynes, the Barbados skipper, won the toss and chose to bat. For Scotland, Colin Smith was back behind the stumps while Gavin Hamilton, Dewald Nel and Darren Spink were rested.

Dougie Brown and John Blain were soon among the wickets, and at the first drinks break the score was 58 for 2. The two spinners, Ryan Watson and Ross Lyons, were introduced in the 21st over with immediate effect; Gordon Goudie took a fine running catch off Watson.

Further good catches by Kyle Coetzer, Paul Hoffman and Douglas Lockhart reduced the home side to 178 for 7 in the 40th over. The innings was wrapped up for 194 in the 45th over in what was a very competent fielding and bowling performance.

The same could not be said about Scotland's batting. The visitors subsided to 17 for 5 in seven overs, thanks to some hostile fast bowling by the West Indies U-19 fast bowlers Jevan Searles and Kemar Roach, and safe catching by wicket-keeper Dadrian Forde, who ended with five victims.

Craig Wright, the Scotland captain and Dougie Brown then took the total to 60 before the skipper was also caught behind. Two further quick wickets fell - John Blain and Paul Hoffman hardly disturbed the scorers - and Gordon Goudie joined Brown, who was batting imperiously while his team-mates fell around him, reaching his 50 in 71 minutes off only 41 balls.

Goudie batted steadfastly and the pair added 59 valuable runs before he was bowled round his legs for 21. The innings closed on 125 when Brown tried to hit the bowler out of the ground and was neatly caught on the long-off boundary.

The end to the match - a disappointing performance by Scotland to lose by 69 runs - was witnessed by a number of former Bajan stars, well-known to older Scottish fans. These included Adzil Holder, Winslow Ashby and Floyd Reifer (all ex-Ferguslie) and Steve Alleyne (ex-Carlton), and that great West Indian fast bowler, Joel 'Big Bird' Garner.