Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Calum MacLeod hundred in vain as the USA edge past Scotland. Calum MacLeod cracked a brilliant unbeaten 133
Calum MacLeod cracked a brilliant unbeaten 133
Jaskaran Malhotra's final over heroics helped the USA scrap past Scotland's total of 249 off the penultimate ball of the game. In a dramatic over, Malhotra looted 15 off Safyaan Sharif, staying unbeaten on a plucky 36* as the USA came back from behind to seal a tense two-wicket win. In a game that wasn't short of ebbs and flows, Calum Macleod notched up his second consecutive ton of the series, rescuing Scotland from 73 for 5 to a respectable score. Scotland wrestled that momentum into the second innings, almost having the USA buried with the final 25 needed off the last 2 with 3 wickets to play with.
Earlier in the day, Saurabh Netravlakar had Scotland on the ropes with two quick wickets in his first spell, as he made the most of the favourable conditions for bowling, with the wicket remaining under covers for 48 hours. Wallace top-edged a scoop to short fine while Coetzer was squared off by Netravalkar with a clear edge that carried to the ‘keeper. To his dismay, he cleaned up MacLleod when the latter was on five off a no ball. Ian Holland further exploited the conditions, castling Michael Jones off an in-dipper along with pinning Matthew Cross in front.
Chris Greaves joined MacLeod with Scotland down in the dumps at 31 for 4. Greaves held fort momentarily as MacLeod counter-attacked. Holland rapped Greaves on his front pad, ending his resistance after a 42-run stand. Michael Leask combined with MacLeod to keep the USA at bay for the next hour; the pair added 92 off the next 16 overs as the USA spinners faltered in their line and length on a cold Aberdeen afternoon. Steven Taylor's off-spin brought the USA into the game as he found considerable purchase off the wicket to snare Leask and Mark Watt, right after the other. With 10 overs to go, MacLeod put his foot on the gas pedal as Scotland racked up 75 in the final 10, leaving USA stunned with his glittering 133* off 144 balls.
Fortune started favouring the USA in the second half of the innings. The in-form Taylor avoided a caught and bowled chance off the first ball of the innings against a delivery that held up on the surface, off left arm spinner Mark Watt. Taylor carved a couple of imperious drives but Scotland largely kept the opening pair of Taylor and Sushant Modani silent in the powerplay. The USA lost Taylor off a casual piece of running from Taylor in the 10th over with the score at a mere 28. Monank Patel came in like a breath of fresh air, staying busy at the crease from the word go. Monank's fluency made the USA add another 52 in the next 11 overs before Modani departed to an uppish drive at cover.
Monank reached his second fifty of the series in 56 balls; his celebrations were short-lived as he miscued a lofted off drive to point off the next ball. Jones and Holland batted sedately for a 31-run stand before Holland holed out trying to up the ante. Needing 101 under less than 14 overs, Gajanand Singh walked out with a purpose, smashing six boundaries in the space of seven overs to bring the game within USA's grasp. Singh chipped one straight to cover after having the USA in the driver's seat with 51 needed off 41 deliveries. The USA lost wickets in a heap after Jones was sent back to the pavilion after a well-compiled half-century.
The USA lost three more wickets for seven runs as Scotland sensed victory once again. Needing 15 off the final over, Malhotra slapped Sharif for a six over long-leg. He followed that with an ungainly hoick, but somehow managed to find the ropes of the next two deliveries; over short third man and an inside edge that alluded the ‘keeper. The pair of Malhotra and Jessy Singh scampered for the final run off the next ball as the USA grabbed a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Brief Scores: Scotland 249-8 in 50 overs (Calum MacLeod 133*, Ian Holland 3-28) lost to the USA 250-8 in 49.5 overs (Aaron Jones 62, Hamza Tahir 2-37) by two wickets
