Australia A's bowlers showed their Ashes potential as they ripped through Scotland's batsmen in Edinburgh, wrapping up a win by 360 runs with a session to spare.
Only four Scottish batsmen made double figures as Chadd Sayers and James Pattinson impressed with both pace and swing to share seven wickets between them.
It was a dismal Scotland second innings but rather than the first innings when the Scots got themselves out, this innings was much more down to the prowess of the bowling and fielding.
Moises Henriques and Ashton Agar built on Australian A's overnight lead, both claiming half centuries, before their second declaration of the match put the Scots in to bat before lunch. By the break they had lost three wickets and it only took another 19.1 overs for the tourists to wrap up victory in the afternoon session.
Sayers claimed three wickets, taking a good catch off his own bowling to remove Josh Davey. He also induced a drive from Richie Berrington that he edged to second slip and gave Moneeb Iqbal a pair by trapping him lbw.
Pattinson took four, taking two top order batsmen, including Matt Machan with a yorker, before cleaning up the tail. He ended up thanking the Scots for being such great hosts, and said he is looking forward to the rest of the tour.
Calum MacLeod top scored for Scotland again, finishing with an unbeaten 30, hitting Nathan Lyon for four boundaries.
Australia A now head off to Ireland for a four-day game, joined by the much-hyped Fawad Ahmed who arrived in Edinburgh today after a long journey from Melbourne via Dubai and London for a net session.
Day 2: Australia A 372 for 8 dec (Haddin 113, Siddle 103*) and 165 for 4 lead Scotland 149 (MacLeod 51, Pattinson 3-16) by 388 runs
Peter Siddle scored his maiden first-class hundred and then the Australia A bowlers proved too much for Scotland who crumbled to 149. James Pattinson, one of a trio of likely Ashes bowlers in operation, claimed three wickets before the Australians opted for batting practice rather than a swift victory.
Siddle, whose previous best was 87, had resumed on 85 and, as the Australians pressed for a declaration, he was given a life on 93 but a sparkling cover drive brought him his hundred.
Scotland started their reply full of nerves with Josh Davey facing 15 deliveries before being caught behind for a duck. Matt Machan showed promise from the other end hitting a couple of fours off the bowling off Chad Sayers, but Freddie Coleman was run out by a superb direct hit from Nathan Lyon, and Richie Berrington soon followed, being clean bowled for 1 by Pattinson.
Lyon, who could come under pressure for his Test berth if Fawad Ahmed is fast-tracked into the main squad, was given an early bowl and beat Machan in the flight. Moneeb Iqbal lost his off stump when he shouldered arms at Pattinson and Matthew Cross, the wicketkeeper, fell to Moises Henriques when he left his bat in the air while avoiding a bouncer. When Ashton Agar claimed two wickets Scotland were in tatters at 83 for 9.
However, Callum MacLeod and Iain Wardlaw added a record 66 for the last wicket as they attacked the spinners, especially Lyon, although the offspinner finally ended their fun when MacLeod picked out deep square-leg the ball after reaching fifty.
Australia opted not to force the follow-on to allow their top order, which had not been fluent in the first innings, another chance. Jordan Silk and Usman Khawaja edged to first slip but the lead swelled to nearly 400 by the close.
Day 1: Australia A 335 for 6 (Haddin 113, Siddle 85*) v Scotland
Brad Haddin proved his class with an opening day century for Australia A against Scotland at the Grange to put his side in healthy shape at the close on day one.
Haddin held the innings together while wickets fell around him and finally found Peter Siddle as a long-term partner. The pair shared 118 for the sixth wicket to gradually shrug off the game Scotland attack.
Haddin was involved in a few decent partnerships as he quietly moved past his half-century. His team-mates squandered stands that could have developed, but Haddin stuck around and played his own game. Too many short balls allowed him to deal in boundaries and in the evening session he passed his century with 11 fours.
Siddle arrived at No. 7 and played the anchor while Haddin opened up his repertoire of strokes, scoring in all corners of the outfield with ease. Siddle reached his own half-century playing his favoured cut for four that also brought up the century partnership.
The stand finally asserted Australian authority on the day that had begun with Scotland - whose attack was missing Neil Carter, Kyle Coetzer and David Murphy - winning the toss and making early inroads with the ball. Openers Jordan Silk and Alex Doolan didn't hang around, Silk finding an outside edge from Gordon Goudie to Preston Mommsen at second slip and Doolan being clean bowled by Iain Wardlaw.
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith set about repairing the early loss. Smith nudged the singles while his partner dealt in boundaries, punishing the occasional bad delivery. Khawaja looked comfortable as the Scottish bowlers struggled to adjust to the left-hander, and when he passed his half-century in 95 balls he looked like he could push on but edged Wardlaw to wicketkeeper Matthew Cross.
While Wardlaw and MacLeod took the spoils with two wickets each, it was Goudie who was the most impressive with just 13 runs coming off his first 13 overs, including 6 maidens and the early wicket. He also claimed two important catches. But the balance of the match changed the moment Haddin stepped to the crease.
Scotland were short in the spin department, with the experienced Majid Haq out with a hamstring injury. Both Matt Machan and Moneeb Iqbal had a trundle and ironically it was a short length delivery from the latter which eventually dislodged Haddin for 113. His eyes lit up when he went to pull and connected well but not out of the range of Mommsen at midwicket who took a great diving catch with two hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment