HEAVY rain destroyed Scotland's eagerly-anticipated match against England in Edinburgh today.
The first ever full one day international between the sides was abandoned this afternoon when downpours made a conclusion impossible.
England were 10 without loss at the time in response to Scotland's 159 for 9 in an innings reduced to 44 overs be
cause of the wet weather.
Former England international Gavin Hamilton had scored a battling 60 to give Scotland's total some respectability.
England's new-look line-up, including debutant Samit Patel and recalled players Andrew Flintoff, Matt Prior and Tim Bresnan, would have faced a much stiffer target but for Hamilton's determined 60 off 119 balls.
Scotland's opening partnership lasted just eight deliveries when Patel ran out opener Watson with his first touch in international cricket.
Hamilton, who played one Test for England in 1999 against South Africa in Johannesburg, clipped Yorkshire all-rounder Bresnan to mid-wicket but immediately declined a quick single.
But captain Watson had already advanced down the wicket and was unable to return to his crease at the non-striker's end before Patel pounced to throw down the stumps.
Durham batsman Kyle Coetzer, one of four members of the Scotland line-up with county experience, lasted just one over before became Bresnan's first victim when he edged a delivery to Flintoff at second slip.
Bresnan also struck in his next over to remove Warwickshire's Nav Poonia, who this time edged to Patel at third slip.
Colin Smith joined Hamilton and the pair signalled their intentions by hitting sixes early in their innings although England contributed to their own frustration by dropping two catches.
Hamilton was given his first reprieve on 24 when he edged Flintoff straight to second slip where James Anderson fumbled the chance and Owais Shah was unable to react in time at first slip to claim the rebound.
He was given another escape in the next over without adding to his total when he drove at Stuart Broad and the ball flew high in the air to third man only for Luke Wright to miss the catch.
The partnership was finally broken when Smith, who had battled to 36 off 67 balls including three fours and two sixes, upper cut Broad and was caught at third man by Alastair Cook, a substitute fielder for Flintoff during a brief absence from the field.
Three overs later, Neil McCallum slog swept Patel straight to Anderson in the deep. England were unable to build on that further breakthrough with rain forcing another delay but just six overs after the re-start Broad bowled Craig Wright off an inside edge.
Just four overs before the finish Hamilton's innings, which included four fours and three sixes, was ended when he was superbly caught by Prior as he attempted to guide Flintoff to the third man boundary.
Flintoff claimed two more wickets in the final over of the innings off successive balls to finish with three for 21 and leave England facing a modest victory target.
The full article contains 508 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
