Scotland off to a flyer in NCL as Dravid signs up

Scotland have confirmed the signing of Indian batsman Rahul Dravid for the 2003 season. Dravid will debut for Scotland in their NCL match against Hampshire in Edinburgh on 1 June and is expected to play in 12 matches this summer, including the one-day game against Pakistan on 7 June. Dravid said: "It will be exciting for me to work with Scotland and hopefully I will be able to help them in their quest to get a World Cup berth in 2007. And I will be delighted to work with some of the young cricketers in Scotland while I am there." Scotland captain Craig Wright was delighted at the news: "This is a major coup for our squad and for Scottish cricket," he explained. "It will be a great boost for us to share a dressing room with a player of such proven calibre and experience."

Only a few days later, however, on 4 May, Scottish cricket fans were probably wondering whether they really needed Dravid at all, as their team registered a nail-biting 4 wicket victory over Durham in front of a packed house at Chester-le-Street on their National League debut. Majid Haq (4 for 36 off nine overs) was the pick of the disciplined Scottish bowling line up, which ensured that none of the Durham batsmen reached the half century mark. With Scotland needing only 168 to win, Douglas Lockhart and Ryan Watson put on 75 for the first wicket. Durham's Dewald Pretorious struck twice in one over leaving Scotland on 132 for 5 and hearts in mouths all round the Riverside, but Colin Smith and Neil McRae held their nerve to record a famous win with four balls remaining.