Cricket: Scots denied

SCOTLAND were denied a remarkable win against Yorkshire in their Benson and Hedges Cup Group B match at Linlithgow yesterday after Darren Gough (30) and Richard Blakey (43, not out) steered the first-class side to a jittery victory.

Yorkshire, gaining their second cup win, eventually surpassed Scotland's total of 168 for 7 with three wickets and 25 balls remaining, but it had not appeared so straightforward when they found themselves 98 for 5 after 28 overs.

Yorkshire's Scottish-born seamer Gavin Hamilton gave his countrymen early problems, shifting the opener Bruce Patterson and Mike Smith (21).

Hamilton's double breakthrough helped Yorkshire put the brakes on the hosts' efforts, but Bryn Lockie was a harder nut to crack as Scotland went on to 109 for 3 after 33.3 overs, having lost George Salmond to Gough along the way. Asim Butt also proved resilient with a knock of 30, but Scotland's total of 168 was never going to be enough.