HOVE (Sussex won toss): Scotland Saltires (4pts) beat Sussex Sharks by six wickets
SCOTLAND gained their first victory in the National League since Rahul Dravid, the elegant India batsman, joined them earlier this summer and a notable one it was, too. He, inevitably, had much to do with it, making 69 in a partnership of 167 off 29 overs with their other overseas batsman, Jon Kent.
There were nine balls remaining when Scotland reached their target of 271, which was more than they had achieved before when batting second in this competition. Kent, a South African who has aspirations to play first-class county cricket, made an unbeaten 115 off 113 balls with 13 fours and a six struck over a short leg-side boundary.
Such an achievement had seemed improbable when Murray Goodwin made his third century in four National League innings. Chris Adams, the home captain, hit the ball as hard as he customarily does in his unbeaten 95 off 83 balls, which included 12 fours and a six.
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The Scotland bowlers conceded 62 runs from the last five overs and then three of their batsmen were out at the same total, 57. Dravid, though, is the batsman for such circumstances and what with his deft placement, Kent’s forceful hitting and some sloppy fielding, a rare triumph was achieved.