SCOTLAND cricket skipper Gavin Hamilton insists the Saltires' imminent run of four home matches in six days is just what they need despite their hammering at Somerset.
The Scots bowlers were left battered and bruised by flat-track bullies Marcus Trescothick (144) and James Hildreth (151) as they shared a home record second wicket partnership of 270 runs in 36 overs on the Sabres way to a total of 403-3.
Hamilton
, Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum all passed 50 in reply as the Scots got off the floor to gain some respectability with a total of 252-9 but it still left them 151 runs adrift. However, Hamilton is convinced the run of four matches at the Citylets Grange, which starts on Thursday with the visit of Middlesex, could revive their fortunes.
"It wasn't a good day but we've got to regroup and bounce back from this," said Hamilton.
"We batted reasonably well on a good pitch but there's no way that it was a 400-run pitch.
"The batting gives us something to build on and we should have John Blain, Craig Wright and Gordon Drummond back for Thursday. And we need these games in quick succession.
"We've struggled to get seven or eight of the same team together, never mind ten so I'm looking forward to getting players back together for a prolonged period."
The trip to Taunton began well enough when, after Hamilton had won the toss and given the hosts first use of the wicket, Dewald Nel removed in-form opener Craig Kieswetter cheaply. That however brought Trescothick and Hildreth together. The former England opener had a let off on 18 when wicket-keeper Simon Smith dropped a catch and he made the visitors pay, heavily, racing to a boundary-laden century from 84 balls.
He was dropped again on 112 by Sean Weeraratna at long leg, again off Stander, whose ten overs cost 106. Hildreth then brought up his ton from 101 balls but their mammoth stand was eventually ended when Trescothick was held by Weeraratna off Matthew Parker.
That only brought Peter Trego to the crease, though, and he joined in the fun by hammering 74 from 39 balls with Hildreth eventually falling for his highest one-day score to Stander.
Trego also did the early damage with the ball by trapping Navdeep Poonia in front for just nine as the Scots reply got off to a dreadful start. But Hamilton again looked in good touch as he brought up his third successive half-century since replacing Watson as captain, with the former skipper finally finding some form as well.
They added 73 for the second wicket but were always behind the rate when Hamilton was bowled by Alfonso Thomas for a fluent 62 trying to up the tempo. Watson dug in though and went to his first 50 of the summer before Cameron Borgas at the other end fell to Thomas for 23. Watson then departed to Zander de Bruyn's pace for 67 with Stander, Smith, Parker and Glenn Rogers also following cheaply as the Sabres looked to wrap up an early victory.
Somerset 403-3 beat Scotland 252-9 by 151 runs.
