Scotland v Denmark
Lochside Park, Forfar
1 August 2003
Report from David Potter

On the first day of the Under 15 European Championship Scotland had a convincing win by 8 wickets over Denmark at Lochside Park Forfar.

On a bright sunny day the home skipper Craig Marshall won the toss and elected to field first. The ground staff had worked late into the previous evening to get the ground playable on time, having been thwarted all week with rain.

The home attack was lead by Drumpellier's Calum McLeod who opened from the Baron Hill end and Alasdiar Evans from Carlton coming off the loch end. Both bowlers started off nervously bowling a few wides before they found their line and length. The decision to field first was fully justified as the Danes lost their first wicket on 21 when Quershi was given out caught behind by Parker to give the S.M.R.H. keeper the first of his 4 victims. Evans got into the act as well when Khan was caught by the captain to leave the visitors struggling at 23 for 2.

Boldt and Shah tried to repair the damage and they took the score onto 39 before Shah was out to a catch by Parker which at the second attempt. Only Boldt put up any resistance and once he was out for 28 with the score on 72 the rest of the batting collapsed to poor shot selection and good controlled bowling and the innings closed in the 35th over with 89 runs on the board.

This was never to be enough on a good batting strip and the home side knocked the runs off in just under 19 overs with the loss of two wickets. Robin Hiley was the pick of the batsman as he finished not out on 31 and in the bowling department Calum McLeod took 4 for 20.

Overall a good performance by the Scots against a Danish side who never looked like getting in control of the match.