English helps Scotland notch up a hat-trick of victories

’Lie cricketer smashes his first century for national A team

Michael English warmed up for the new cricket season in perfect fashion as he smashed his first century for Scotland A.

The Scotland A side were in action at Bath Cricket Club over the weekend, playing one friendly and two T20 fixtures against Bath and Gloustersire 2nd.

Grant Bradburn’s side were in great form as they recorded three straight victories to make it a successful trip south.

Ferguslie batsman English was the catalyst for the perfect weekend, striking a total of 110 as Scotland made their way to 374 all out in the friendly outing against Bath CC.

A fine bowling attack then saw Scotland bowl out their hosts for a total of 217 as Scotland recorded a 157-run victory.

They were back in action against Bath the following day in the first of the T20 games, with the Scotland A players looking to put their name in the mix before the senior team squad is announced for the clash against Pakistan in June.

Captain Michael Leask was put into bat first against Bath and within five overs had lost four wickets following some attacking bowling from the hosts, with Scotland sitting on 34/4.

Dylan Budge and youngster Owais Shah built a strong partnership in the middle part of the innings, with Budge making 87 and Shah 29.

The pair were then dismissed in consecutive balls in the 17th over. The team concluded on 198/8 from the 20 overs.

Bath began their reply quickly sitting on 49/1 after five overs, but their good start was stalled by a quick rain break.

Wickets from Ross Lyons and Christian Robertson had the hosts sitting on 132/8 in the 16th, before being bowled out for 148, with Scotland winning by 44 runs.

In game two aga i n s t Gloucestershire 2nd XI, the A’s once again batted first and, thanks to a 50 from captain Leask and Dylan Budge, the team were sitting on a comfortable 105/3 after 10 overs.

A 100 partnership between Leask and Budge came and placed the Scots on 155/3 after 14 overs. Leask went on to make a well-earned century two overs later following an excellent display of six hitting, but was caught at long on with 12 balls to go for a brilliant 111.

Wallace added 29 runs from the final two overs, ending Scotland A’s innings on 233/6 after 20 overs.

Gloucestershire came out the blocks fast sitting on 66/ 1 after five, but with after a muchneeded breakthrough from a smart run out from George Munsey, it was 92/2.

Gloucestershire’s Liddle added 40 runs at the end but the Scots secured a 43-run victory, with Dickinson being the pick of the bowlers with 3/25 and two wickets each for Adrian Neill and Mitchel Rao.

Ferguslie batsman Michael English was the catalyst for the perfect weekend, striking a total of 110 as Scotland made their way to 374 all out against Bath