SCOTLAND captain Ryan Watson insists his top-order batsmen must start taking responsibility after the Saltires slumped to a 38-run Friends Provident Trophy loss to holders Durham.
Neil McCallum's 60 off 83 balls was the only highlight of another below-par Scottish batting performance as they were skittled out for 192 inside 47 overs chasing Durham's 230.
South African Neil McKenzie (68) and England one-day keeper Phil Musta
rd (57) spearheaded the Dynamo's innings as they hit Scotland into 200 for the first time this season – seamer John Blain the pick of the bowlers with two for 34.
But the Saltires fell flat in response, Australian Ed Cowan and Fraser Watts both failing to score as Durham siblings Steve and Ben Harmison ripped through the Scottish middle order with three wickets each.
And Watson admitted his side must start performing with the bat if they are to continue to compete in the Friends Provident Trophy.
"Our batsmen have had a hard time but we have only managed average scores so far," said Watson.
"The bowlers are doing well and we have generally done well on the road but our batsmen need to be more competitive.
"We need to be getting 230 or 240 regardless of whether we bat or bowl first because they are match-winning totals."
Watson's decision to bowl first looked to have paid off when Blain and South African partner Dewald Nel took their combined Friends Provident Trophy tally to 17.
Former Yorkshire seamer Blain sent Aussie Michael Di Venuto packing for nine before Nel dismissed Will Smith – in for Scot Kyle Coetzer – for the same score as Durham fell to 29 for two. England keeper Mustard and McKenzie steadied the ship putting on 75 before Richie Berrington's introduction in the 17th over allowed the former to open up his arms.
Mustard eased to a half-century but any plans of him building on that were soon stopped when he was run out five overs later.
South African duo Dale Benkenstein (31) and McKenzie added 70 in 12 overs before the former was cleaned up trying to track left-arm spinner Glenn Rogers in the 40th over.
McKenzie's innings soon came to a close thanks to Blain and Ben Harmison quickly followed after a quick-fire 20.
But South African Garry Park (18) and Gareth Breese (four) added precious late runs as the saw out the 50 overs to post 230.
Former Durham man Gavin Hamilton smashed two boundaries as Scotland began their response but soon fell for 13 edging Callum Thorp to Mustard.
Cowan was the next to go as the Scots fell from 22 without loss to 23 for 2. Skipper Watson and Colin Smith doubled the score before the Harmison brothers wrecked any hopes of a Scottish win.
Ben Harmison removed Smith for 11 and ended Watson's 26 run reprieve sandwiched in-between Steve's dismissal of Watts.
Scotland were teetering on the edge at 51 for five but McCallum remained strong before Steve Harmison cleaned up Berrington for 29 and Ben saw off Blain (eight).
Former England international Steve Harmison soon clean bowled McCallum with the score at 153 before Calum MacLeod was run out for seven.
Rogers (19) and Nel (14) took the score to 192 before Thorp picked up his second wicket to seal the deal in the 47th over.
The full article contains 567 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
