Watson gives Scotland the edge

Scotland 95 for 3 (Watson 62*) trail Namibia 168 (S Burger 69, Lyons 4-10) by 73 runs
Scorecard

Scotland celebrate a wicket at Aberdeen © Cricket Scotland

Scotland ended the first day of their Intercontinental Cup clash against Namibia at Aberdeen just about ahead after a good post-lunch performance with the ball and an uncompromising unbeaten 62 from Ryan Watson. At the close, Scotland were 95 for 3 in reply to Namibia's 168.

The first two sessions were fairly low on entertainment for a crowd which never exceeded a couple of hundred. Namibia batted after winning the toss, but Paul Hoffmann and Dewald Nel bowled well to keep them under the cosh, and at lunch they had struggled to 68 for 3.

Sarel Burger and Gerrie Snyman then launched an effective counter-attack, adding 70 for the fifth wicket. The reintroduction of left-arm spinner Ross Lyons turned the game again. He dismissed Snyman with his second ball and the following over removed Burger for 62. From 143 for 4 the innings fell apart, the last six wickets adding only 25 and Lyons finishing with 4 for 10 off 12.4 overs.

Scotland started poorly, with Dougie Lockhart treading on his own stumps off the fifth ball. But Watson was in no mood to hang around, and he set about the bowling, not easing up even when Ian Stranger was dismissed for 12.

Scotland's day was slightly spoiled when Fraser Watts was run-out in the final over attempting am unnecessarily tight single.

Tomorrow could present problems of a different kind as heavy rain is forecast for the east coast of Scotland.