SCOTLAND cricket coach Peter Steindl doesn't want his side to be judged purely on a 37-run defeat by Somerset Sabres at citylets Grange as the annual Friends Provident Trophy campaign ended on a low note, maintaining that they are better than they showed against rivals who qualified unbeaten from the group.
With expectations raised by a win over Kent two days earlier, admittedly in a reduced-over format, this setback was all the more acute as so many wounds were self-inflicted.
Steindl said: "The guys felt they could have done better.
When you t
hink of the difficult times we have had this team, in the last three games at any rate, showed a lot of character."
That was a reference to a change of captaincy and the concession of 400 runs in the reciprocal fixture with Somerset before socks began to be pulled up.
Emphasising that more plusses than minuses had been amassed Steindl said: "The way the guys bounced back has been very commendable."
There was no attempt by the coach, though, to disguise the fact that chasing down a score of 220 ought to have been within Saltires' compass.
"We were in there with a shout but, unfortunately, a few things we did along the way made it difficult for us."
A string of Saltires perished to weak shots or rank misjudgement in failing to provide hired hand Cameron Borgas, who made an unbeaten 78, with the sort of backing required.
Fraser Watts (16), after playing his way in to share an opening stand of 34 alongside Gavin Hamilton, hit across the line to a ball from Zander de Bruyn and when Ryan Watson gave a straightforward catch which couldn't clear the inner ring of fielders, Saltires were 53-2.
Borgas arrived and measured his innings beautifully but first Hamilton went for 29 to be followed by Neil McCallum, caught at slip without scoring.
At least Richie Berrington (23) was able to drop anchor but no sooner had he and Borgas achieved the half-century partnership than the Greenock man gave a return catch to bowler Arul V Suppiah.
Even then, with more than a dozen overs remaining and 92 needed there was still a chance, but a suicidal run-out involving Jan Stander (12) setting off for a second that was never on effectively sealed Saltires' fate. All that remained was for Sean Weeraratna (0), Majid Haq (3), Simon Smith (2) and Dewald Nel (2) to make brief appearances in a tame surrender as Thomas finished with figures of 4-22, the last six Scottish wickets going for 53 runs.
Little wonder Steindl declared: "One of the things we need to do to progress is actually get across the finishing line."
This lack of killer instinct was particularly hard on the Scottish bowling and fielding, which was tight and generally economical in giving the side a fighting chance before self-destruction set in.
Referring to the batting, skipper Hamilton said: "A couple of soft dismissals really put us on the back foot.
"I'm all for being positive but we have to be more selective and just get into winning habits."
Hamilton was also upbeat about the performance in the field and where there was general agreement was regards the contribution of Aussie Borgas, whose half century was his third in seven matches.
Steindl added: "Cameron has added value as well as with his batting. He is an excellent fielder and his demeanour around the dressing room has also been excellent."
The sooner this attitude begins to be more widely adopted the better, although Borgas will now return to playing club cricket for Greenock leaving the Scotland players to go forward to the Twenty20 World Cup in England early next month.
"We are all looking forward to playing on that stage," said Steindl.
Matches against New Zealand and South Africa at the Oval, London, will be very tough encounters for the Scots.
A tendency for the batsman, generally, not to throw wickets away in future would certainly help and is a must before the Saltires return to Edinburgh in late August for a showdown with the all-powerful Australian touring team.
