Cricket: Scots slated

The Australians 278-9 Scotland 95-6 Match abandoned

Michael Slater boosted his chances of a place in the Australian side for the Fourth Test with a quickfire 95 as the tourists were denied victory over Scotland by the rain at Edinburgh yesterday. The Scots were struggling at 95 for six in reply to the tourists' 278 for nine when rain forced the abandonment of the one-day game.

Slater advanced his claims for a recall at Headingley on Thursday week by sharing an opening stand of 143 in just 24 overs with Justin Langer - plundering two sixes and 12 fours from just 80 balls and helping himself, in one over, to 20 off spinner Keith Sheridan - before finally edging Ian Stanger to Douglas Lockhart.

Scotland, inspired by Sheridan, fought back well after the Australians had reached 174-2, restricting them to 278 for nine. The left-armer recovered from an early mauling by Slater to finish with 5-65, including three in the space of five balls, and the twin scalps of Steve and Mark Waugh for just two and 11.

But any hopes the Scots had of chasing their target were soon removed as Michael Kasprowicz stepped in for three early wickets, including that of Bruce Patterson, who had struck three boundaries. Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie claimed a wicket apiece to put Australia in complete command before the rain rescued the Scots.