Scotland take series with 53-run win against Hong Kong

A whole 50-over game given the recent string of washed out or truncated games in the British Isles came as a welcome change. After an anti-climatic end to the first One-Day International between Hong Kong and Scotland, that was called off with the former requiring just 17 runs to win in two overs, they fell short of Scotland's posed target by 53 runs on Saturday (September 10) after a strong start, conceding the two-match series 0-1.

Scotland opted to bat at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh and their batsmen made merry. Led at the top by captain Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod's fourth ODI century took Scotland to 266 for 7 in 50 overs. In a stiff chase, the Hong Kong skipper played a captain's knock with a half-century and took them close to the target, but a flurry of wickets pegged them back and ultimately Scotland eked out a win as Hong Kong were bowled out for 213 in 46.1 overs.

Babar Hayat, the Hong Kong captain, led from the front with a half-century after the openers were sent back to the pavilion by Chris Sole with less than 50 runs on the board. He stitched a vital 90-run stand with Nizakat Khan before the skipper departed after a 67-ball 56. Nizakat fell within the next four overs and Hong Kong were pegged back in their chase.

Ehsan Khan and Anshuman Rath departed in successive overs and from 49 for 2, Hong Kong were reduced to 164 for 6. With 100 runs required off the last 69 balls, the result could have gone either way. However, a flurry of wickets and no substantial contribution from the bottom half found Hong Kong well short.

Earlier, Coetzer did bulk of the scoring in an opening stand of 63, in which, his partner Matthew Cross scored only 13, before Nadeem Ahmed struck in the 11th over. Tanveer Ahmed dealt them a double blow by taking a return catch off Coetzer in the following over as Scotland were reduced to 63 for 2.

With a dire need to rebuild, MacLeod was patient while wickets fell at the other end with the middle order's contribution scarce.

Craig Wallace and MacLeod came together with Scotland 144 for 5 and shared a 116-run stand in a counter-attack. They not just steadied the innings, but scored at a quick pace, at over seven runs an over to ensure their side would finish with a strong total.

MacLeod took a particular liking to Aizaz Khan, the medium pacer, who was taken for 30 runs off 17 balls, while Wallace took him for two sixes. Khan eventually finished with figures of 1 for 72 in nine overs - the most expensive of the Hong Kong bowlers.

While Wallace fell for a run-a-ball 52 in the penultimate over, MacLeod perished in the final over for a 107-ball 102, an innings which comprised of eight fours and a solitary six.