Kiwis Scotch-tape Windies

Edinburgh, May 31: New Zealand cocked a snook at their mighty neighbours from across the Tasman when they thrashed Scotland and made the ...

Edinburgh, May 31: New Zealand cocked a snook at their mighty neighbours from across the Tasman when they thrashed Scotland and made the Super Six on a better Net Run Rate than the West Indies.

At the start of this match, West Indies had a NRR of 0.50. They were helped in the inflation of the NRR by the Australians see adjacent box.

However, New Zealand finished the day with a NRR of 0.58 and made the grade, much to the Aussie and Windies8217; disappointment.

Today at the picturesque 150 year-old Grange Cricket Club, the Kiwi camped whooped in delight when skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss, and elected to field.

Scotland, the whipping boys of this group, were immediately in trouble as they lost three quick wickets before their hero, Gavin Hamilton 20 along with Ian Stanger added 52 runs before succumbing tamely to Nathan Astle.England, who had discarded Hamilton from the World Cup 15, are already ruing that decision. Hamilton, in place of Graeme Hick, would have fetched them the Super Sixspot.

Scotland made just 122 runs despite some great support from their fans. The atmosphere was truly festive with the kilts, and the bagpipers played all day long. The New Zealanders needed to make the target in 21 overs. According to our scorer, had the Kiwis done it in less than 14 overs they might as well have taken the second place ahead of the Aussies!

They opened the batting with pinch hitter Mathew Hart a bowler who was not used today. He was out second ball. The Kiwis also lost Nathan Astle 11, Craig McMillan 19 and skipper Fleming 7 early. But Roger Twose 54 n.o. and Chris Cairns 20 n.o. saw them through in 17.5 overs. For once the Scottish fans cheered a team that beat theirs. May be even they felt that Australia8217;s tactics at Old Trafford on Sunday was just not cricket.

Group B: Scotland vs New Zealand

Scotland

Story continues below this ad

MJ Smith c Cairns b Nash 1 14 0/0
MJdeG Allingham c Fleming b Allott 2 25 0/0
G Salmond lbw b Allott 1 13 0/0
GM Hamilton cAllott b Astle 20 49 2/0
IM Stanger c Astle b Cairns 27 58 1/0
JE Brinkley c Parore b Allott 0 6 0/0
JG Williamson c amp; b Harris 10 24 0/0
AG Davies c sub Vettori b Harris 24 48 3/0
JAR Blain lbw b Harris 0 1 0/0
Asim Butt c Twose b Harris 10 10 0/1
NR Dyer not out 2 8 0/0
Extras b1, lb7, w13, nb3 24.
Total all out, 42.1 overs 121
Fall of wickets: 1-2 Smith, 3.4 ov, 2-11 Salmond, 6.6 ov, 3-12 Allingham, 10.1 ov, 4-66 Hamilton, 24.4 ov, 5-68 Brinkley, 26.4 ov, 6-68 Stanger, 27.2 ov, 7-100 Williamson, 35.1 ov, 8-100 Blain, 35.2 ov, 9-110 Asim Butt, 37.2 ov, 10-121 Davies, 42.1 ov.
Bowling: Allott 10-3-15-3 1w, Nash 10-3-16-1 1nb, Bulfin 6-0-31-0 1nb, 2w, Cairns 8-0-26-1 1nb, 3w, Astle 5-1-18-1 2w, Harris 3.1-0-7-4 1w.

New Zealand

MN Hart b Blain 0 2 0/0
NJ Astle c Davies b Blain 11 10 1/0
CD McMillan c amp; b Hamilton 19 27 2/0
RG Twose not out 54 495/1
SP Fleming b Blain 7 7 1/0
CL Cairns not out 20 16 1/1
Extras b1, lb2, w5, nb4 12.
Total 4 wickets, 17.5 overs 123
Fall of wickets: 1-0 Hart, 0.2 ov, 2-19 Astle, 2.3 ov, 3-81 McMillan, 11.5 ov, 4-92 Fleming, 12.6 ov.
Bowling: Blain 7-0-53-3 3nb, 2w, Butt 5-0-33-0 1nb, 2w, Hamilton 5.5-0-34-1.