Saltires fall at home to Essex

Scotland lost a rain-affected YB40 match to Essex by 59 runs at a cold and wet Grange in Edinburgh.

The visitors posted an impressive 217 for six from 29 overs, with opener Tom Westley top-scoring on 63.

Majid Haq and Preston Mommsen each took two wickets in the face of some big hitting.

Mommsen impressed with the bat, finishing on 70 not out from 66 balls, while Freddie Coleman made 64 as the Saltires reached 158 for four.

Scotland won the toss, but captain Mommsen may regret his decision to put the visitors in as Essex scored six in the first over, setting a pattern which led to an opening wicket stand of 79 between Tom Westley and Mark Pettini.

By the fourth over, Essex had reached the half-century, with 15 of those runs coming off Calvin Burnett in the third over.

Michael Leask managed to stem the Essex tide, losing just three truns in his first over.

And the spinner took Pettini's scalp with the first ball of his second, Dewald Nel catching brilliantly at the boundary for 47.

However, Essex soon resumed scoring form with Jaik Mickleburgh scoring successive boundaries in his 22 before being caught by Mommsen off Moneeb Iqbal.

Graham Napier scored 17, including two sixes, before being caught out lbw to Majid Haq, with Greg Smith caught behind off Mommsen for five.

Nel then had a disastrous third over, conceding 26 runs as Essex captain James Foster raced to 29 before being caught by Iqball off Haq.

Westley then went for 63, caught by Nel off Mommsen.

But Sajid Mahmood gave the English side's score a late boost by taking 20 runs off the last five balls to take his side past the 200 mark.

Scotland were looking to get off to a good start to their reply, but David Masters was lbw first ball, before Matthew Cross's dismissal left the Scots 10 for two.

Richie Berrington then went for nine, leaving Scotland facing an uphill task at 27 for three after nine overs.

The partnership of Mommsen and Coleman did offer a glimmer of hope as they reached a half-century stand in the 18th over.

Both players reached their half-century as their partnership moved into three figures, but Coleman became Tim Phillips' third victim of the innings with two overs remaining.

The blow knocked the stuffing out of Scotland and Essex eased home.