Hooper’s Lancashire upset by Scotland

OLD TRAFFORD: Carl Hooper’s Lancashire suffered an upset loss to surprise team Scotland in England’s National Cricket League (NCL) Division Two limited overs championship at Old Trafford on Sunday. Scotland posted a moderate 192 for eight off their 45 overs and Lancashire tumbled to 151 all out off 42.1 overs, losing by 41 runs. In their debut season in the NCL, the Scots continued their astounding run as Lancashire became the third county side — after Durham and Somerset — to fall to them.

Scotland’s gritty total — after they were sent in — was built around excellent innings of 60 from Greig Williamson and Colin Smith. Medium Sajid Mahmood starred with three wickets in his third NCL outing, while Hooper’s off-spin returned none for 30 off nine overs. The Lancashire reply was fairly steady with Mal Loye (38) and Alec Swann taking the total to 61 for one, before Swann was dislodged for 17 by off spinner Majid Haq. Then Loye departed and Hooper (2) was run out by a direct hit as Lancashire dipped to 73 for four and never recovered.