Lightning strike back

27 April 2008

James Anderson impressed with his swing © Getty Images

Scotland made a dreadful start to their Friends Provident Trophy campaign in Edinburgh as Lancashire earned clinical revenge for last season's shock at Old Trafford.

The Scots had gone into battle in confident mood in the wake of that stunning success, but they had no answer to the pace and power of the Lightning attack, which didn't even need Andrew Flintoff to play a starring role as he stepped up his comeback quest..

The Saltires, who contributed to their own demise with three shocking run-outs, limped to a total of just 73, leaving Lancashire to stroll to glory by eight wickets with 38 overs to spare.

The tone was set when Scotland's new Australian recruit Ed Cowan's stumps were shattered by a fast swinging delivery by James Anderson for a duck.

Skipper Ryan Watson then edged Glenn Chapple to keeper Luke Sutton before the jitters really set in.

Colin Smith was also snapped up by Sutton off Anderson, while Fraser Watts and Gavin Hamilton were the victims of crazy run-outs to leave the Saltires floundering on 21 for five.

Even worse was to come three runs later when Neil McCallum followed in the footsteps of Watson and Smith.

John Blain was trapped lbw by Steve Croft, then Gordon Drummond completed the run-out treble.

The target was never likely to trouble the Lightning and they raced to the win with only a couple of awkward moments, Dewald Nel getting rid of Mal Loye and Gareth Cross.

Their departure left the stage clear for Flintoff (27no) and Stuart Law (14no) to rattle up the rest, the former delivering the final blow with a huge six off Nel.