The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Coetzer is hungry for more of big time for Scots
Captain savours special four days of action
Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer admits he is desperate to sample more of the big time after savouring four special days against two of cricket’s superpowers.
There was disappointment for the skipper as his side was unable to follow up Sunday’s historic one-day international victory against England with another win as they took on Pakistan in two Twenty20 matches in Edinburgh.
But even a crushing 84-run defeat in yesterday’s showdown could not wipe the grin off Coetzer’s face as he looked back on a rare outing against ICC Full Member opposition.
The decision to reduce next year’s 50-over World Cup from 14 teams to 10 has already cost the Scots one chance to place themselves on the game’s biggest stage.
Coetzer, however, is determined to see Scotland take as many opportunities as they can to ensure they are not left out in the future.
He said: “It’s been a pretty special four days. I’d have said beforehand that if we came out of these three games having won one of them, we’d have taken that.
“But, having won the first one, we were hoping to go on and get a second.
“It wasn’t to be but we’ve played some excellent cricket over the four days. The atmosphere has been superb, people have filed through the gates and that is acredit to Scottish cricket and everyone involved in setting this up.
“These kind of occasions are where we want to be and that’s what we’ll be pushing forward for.”
The Scots looked to have put themselves in with a chance to claim another major scalp as Pakistan were limited to 166 for six.
But when opener George Munsey fell to a duck after just three balls, the Saltires reply crumbled and they were eventually bowled out for just 82 with five runs to spare.
They now head to Holland for a Tri-Series that also includes Ireland but Coetzer admitted he was frustrated there were no other matches in his side’s diary.
“We have to use every occasion we have as we don’t get many of them,” he said. “We go now to Holland tomorrow. Holland two games, Ireland two games and that’s our schedule done for the summer.
“That’s disappointing in many ways but we have been fast learners for quite some time now, considering the lack of games that associate teams play.
“Do we need more games? Yes. We’ve said it for a while and I’ve harped on about it enough to be honest. So have other teams. More cricket is key but that has to be balanced with the top teams not playing too much cricket.
“There is a balance there but hopefully one can be found.”
Scotland’s magic touch with the bat deserted them yesterday.
Calum MacLeod had scored 140 in the triumph against the Auld Enemy at the weekend but this time his resistance in an innings of 25 proved futile as his teammates fell apart around him, with the hosts managing just 82 all out in reply.
The sides had met the previous day in sunny conditions and only a brief lull in Scotland’s batting innings had cost them the chance of putting the visitors under more pressure as they fell to a 48-run loss. This time conditions were drizzly but a soggy wicket did not halt the tourists in the early stages as openers Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad rattled up a swift 50 partnership.
But once opener Shehzad fell to Michael Leask for 24, the wickets began to tumble with encouraging regularity for the Scots. Shoaib Malik top-scored for the visitors with 43, but having seen their side make 156 during Tuesday’s match, the home faithful would not have viewed Pakistan’s total as insurmountable. Their optimism was quickly snuffed out, however, as the Scots crumbled from the off.
Munsey was caught for a duck after just three balls, while Coetzer managed just one before his scalp was taken by Usman Khan.
Richie Berrington (20) and MacLeod got themselves in but few else in blue could say the same as the Scots struggled to cope with Faheem Ashraf ’s variety of attack. By the end Scotland were a mess, with Dylan Budge, Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt all run out as the visitors cleaned up with five overs to spare.