Scots and Canadians play out engrossing encounter

In a thoroughly engrossing game, first seeds Scotland survived a strong challenge from hosts Canada at Maple Leaf Cricket Club. On a glorious summer's day, in front of a crowd that reached close to three hundred, the two teams battled hard for 99 overs of excellent cricket. The Canadians fell just twelve runs short, as the tailenders could not cope with the first-class pace bowling of John Blain and James Brinkley.

The Scots opened with Lockhart and Patterson, a well contrasted pair, with Lockhart playing cautiously and Patterson going for his shots. Patterson's 40 was made under extraordinarily difficult circumstances given that he had received news just before the match that his father was gravely ill; he, in fact, left the ground between innings to catch a flight home to Scotland. He applied himself remarkably and, by the time he was bowled by John Davison (2/43), had made an excellent contribution to an opening partnership of 66. Asim Butt was sent in to lift the run rate but his first attempt at a big hit resulted in a spiralling catch that was well taken by Joe Harris.

The Canadian spinners restricted the Scots' bats well. Barry Seeberan (1/32), in particular, bowled superbly, combining clever flight with changes of pace to keep the batsmen off balance on a wicket that offered little assistance.

It was Davison, however, who removed the patient Lockhart for 46, with the assistance of wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai who executed a neat leg side stumping from a faster delivery.

Drew Parsons (42) and Colin Smith (29) then proceeded to build a useful partnership, although Parsons was struggling to find his touch and Smith was unluckily run out when Seeberan deflected a hard hit drive on to the non-striker's stumps.

The Scots were ultimately unable to significantly accelerate the scoring rate in the final overs, their hopes having been dealt an especially cruel blow when Seeberan claimed the wicket of captain George Salmond (2) with a nice piece of bowling, holding back a flighted delivery to induce a catch at short cover.

Bagai then ran out Parsons with a neat piece of fielding, hitting from square on as the batsmen thought about scampering a leg bye. Medium pacer Sanjay Thuraisingham (2/34) also took two late wickets as the Scots pressed earnestly for a total in excess of 200.

Seeberan was perhaps the pick of the bowlers but it was a fine all-round effort from the Canadian attack, backed up by keen fielding.

Canadian openers Nicholas Degroot (23) and Ishwar Maraj (19) found Blain (1/29) in feisty mood, with the ball dug in very short several times in the first over. Short bowling, even at Blain's pace, was unlikely to succeed on this batsman-friendly wicket, though, and the Canadians got off to a good start.

Maraj, in particular, went for his shots well until he was trapped lbw by Blain. Degroot also looked very comfortable initially, driving well, and hooking anything short with time to spare. But Craig Wright (2/22) beat him with a change of pace for the second lbw of the innings.

Muneeb Diwan (36) played carefully, picking up many of his runs through the third man region. Captain Harris (17) also looked comfortable until he played a poor shot, keeper Smith taking a good catch. Harris slapped his bat on his pads in frustration as he walked away, the third Canadian to play himself in but not build a significant innings.

Ian Billcliff (26) also looked solid until he was yorked by Greig Williamson (3/22) and Davison (0) edged the next ball to where slip might have been only to see Smith take a brilliant one-handed catch.

By this point, the match seemed to be swinging Scotland's way. Nonetheless, Melvin Croning (21) and Bagai (17*) took the score to 164 with intent. There were seven overs to go when a mix-up resulted in a run out. Thuraisingham (0), often a useful pinch hitter, was then yorked first ball and Canadian hopes slumped again. Bagai kept his head, and Canada was still in the game as the final over approached. Ultimately, however, another run out and a good catch from Smith left them twelve runs short.