Chapman comes up big in seven-wicket win for tourists
Mark Chapman hit an unbeaten century as New Zealand powered to a seven-wicket one-day international victory over Scotland yesterday with 25 balls remaining.
Chapman, who finished on 101 not out, mounted an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 175 with Daryl Mitchell to ease the tourists past their target of 307 with 25 balls to spare at Grange in the one-off match.
Openers Martin Guptill and Finn Allen got the Kiwis’ reply off to a solid start with contributions of 47 and 50 respectively, but it was Chapman and Mitchell who provided the impetus despite Michael Leask’s return of 2-46.
They came together at the start of the 24th over with the score on 132-3 and Chapman’s knock, which included seven sixes and six fours, and an unbeaten 74 from Mitchell saw them home.
Matthew Cross and Leask had earlier produced a middle-order fightback to keep the Scots in the game.
The pair had put on 92 for the sixth wicket when Cross was caught behind for 53, leaving Leask to guide the tail before he eventually fell for a fine 85, which included four sixes and nine fours, from 55 balls.
Having opted to bat, skipper Richie Berrington saw openers Kyle Coetzer and Michael Jones make it to 46 before Coetzer went for 22, soon to be followed by Callum Macleod, Jones for 36, Berrington and Chris Greaves to leave his side on 107-5 three balls into the 25th over.
Mark Watt’s 31 and 28 from Safyaan Sharif eased Scotland to 306 all out with two balls remaining with Michael Bracewell and Jacob Duffy each taking three wickets.
The Black Caps now head to the Netherlands to begin a tour there.