Richards sinks Scotland

On a sunny day with high clouds and a good breeze, Scotland met a West Indian Select team in the first of two matches. The home side's captain for the day, Ryan Hinds, won the toss and chose to field at the picturesque Windward CC ground. The cricket, however, was far from picturesque as Scotland crawled to 164 for 8 in their 50 overs.

Dougie Lockhart and Gavin Hamilton gave Scotland a solid start, putting on 50 in good time. However, once Lockhart (18) was dismissed by Hinds, wickets began to tumble. Ryan Watson failed to score, also falling to Hinds, and Hamilton went for 34. 78 for 3 was less than inspirational for the Scots.

As in previous matches, Scotland's batsmen seemed to be getting settled only to get out cheaply and wastefully. Fraser Watts (21), Colin Smith (26) and Dougie Brown (22) all fell to unnecessarily lazy shots and although Craig Wright (5) was unlucky to be given run out, John Blain (13*) again batted to the finish.

Scotland faced 30 overs of spin in this game but, not for the first time, too little was made of the last 10 overs when sides are normally expected to push their score on, and the final total of 164 for 8 looked unlikely to trouble the opposition on a good pitch.

And so it proved. In the seven overs before lunch, John Blain removed Lendel Simmons for 4, but the hosts had progressed to 43 by then.

On 68, Ryan Watson picked up the valuable wicket of Hinds for 34, but that was to be the last success for the Scotland bowlers. Even though he tried eight bowlers in all - including Fraser Watts (0 for 11 off 2) - Wright could not winkle out another batsman. Dale Richards (72*) and Deonarine (47*) saw the home side reach their target in only 32 overs.