Coetzer hits 83 as Scots put MCC to the sword

Skipper Kyle Coetzer led from the front as Scotland came out of their midsummer shutdown to sweep aside MCC at Lord’s yesterday.

The Scots had endured two blank months since their ODI series against Zimbabwe in June but there was little sign of rustiness as Coetzer’s men dominated from the start in a 139-run win.

Batting first, Scotland made a bright start as George Munsey raced to 25 with four fours and a six before he fell to countrymen Ali Evans who went on to be MCC’S star bowler.

However, the Scottish total of 309 was based on a 106-run stand for the second wicket between Coetzer, pictured, and Calum Macleod.

Both men reached halfcenturies and, while Macleod fell – also to Evans – for a well-crafted 57, the captain went on to top-score with a superb 83.

He stroked ten fours and one six and looked set for a century until holing out in the deep.

Richie Berrington weighed-in with 36 but Evans went on to claim 4-52, adding the scalps of Michael Leask (21) and Mark Watt (24) to peg the Scots back.

MCC’S hopes of a successful run-chase suffered a triple blow as Safyaan Sharif struck three times to reduce them to 15-3.

And Forfarshire’s Scott Cameron marked his cap debut with a brilliant opening spell which saw him concede just four runs while picking up the wicket of Chris Greaves.

Cameron returned to the attack to claim a second wicket while Mark Watt kept Scotland on top with 2-37 as the MCC batsmen struggled to play a substantial innings.

The victory charge was stalled by West Indies legend Shiv Chanderpaul who ground out a dogged 67 but when he was run out by Stuart Whittingham the Scots closed in on victory, Sharif topping the bowling charts with 3-29 while Cameron completed a memorable debut with 2-9.