MacLeod century gives Scotland series win
Callum MacLeod batted through a majority of Scotland’s innings to rack up a fine 102 (107 balls) that gave the home team a 53-run win over Hong Kong on Saturday (September 10), in the second and final One-Day International between the two sides.
That was enough to give Scotland the series, with the first match on Thursday ending in a no-result due to rain and bad light. The match had been shortened to a 20-overs affair, and Hong Kong’s innings ended at 136 for 4 after 18 overs, chasing 154 for victory.
The second ODI wasn’t as close, with Hong Kong bowled out for 213 in 46.1 overs after Scotland had put on 266 for 7, having opted to bat first, at the Grange Cricket Club Ground in Raeburn Place, Edinburgh.
Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland captain, got the side off to a quick start, taking the lead in a 63-run opening stand that came off just 64 balls. MacLeod, the No.3 batsman, walked in when Matthew Cross became the first wicket to fall, but he lost Coetzer (48 off 42) at the same score three balls later.
Coetzer kept one end strong, even as Hong Kong chipped away at the wickets, but a fine partnership for the sixth wicket between Craig Wallace and Coetzer gave Scotland a winning total. The home team had slipped to 144 for 5 in 32.2 overs when the two got together with the innings in balance. But Wallace (52 off 52) held his end up as the duo added 116 runs in 99 balls.
Hong Kong’s top order made a steady start in its reply, but from 139 for 2 in the 31st over, a rush of wickets meant the visiting team lost its way, losing the last eight wickets for the addition of 74 runs.
Hong Kong had lost Aizaz Khan and Christopher Carter, the openers, to Chris Sole’s medium pace early on. But Babar Hayat (56 off 67), the captain, and Nizakat Khan (40 off 56) were then involved in a steadying 90-run stand. The runs came at a fair clip, with the duo going at five an over, before Hayat fell to Mark Watt. With Alasair Evans getting Nizakat soon after, none of the lower middle order could stick around long enough to build partnerships and Scotland took control of the match.
Sole’s 4 for 28 were the best figures of the day, while Evans and Con de Lange had a couple of wickets each.
