THE FAILURE of Scotland's batsmen to post a high enough target gave Derbyshire their first Benson and Hedges victory but they had to work hard and survive some nervous moments.

The Scots were on top for lengthy periods, notably when Bryn Lockie and Douglas Lockhart were together in a second-wicket stand which yielded 58 runs. A total of 200 seemed possible before the middle-order collapsed, James Brinkley and Alec Davies both being run out in the 42nd over and Greig Williamson going the same way in the next.

Lockie had earlier been unlucky to play on to Vince Clarke, having reached 51, but after their running disasters Scotland could do no better than struggle to 174 in the 50th over.

However, the Scots showed that they are at last beginning to compete with the counties. A confident lbw appeal against Dominic Cork from the first ball of the Derbyshire innings, bowled by Brinkley, was turned down but in the second over Craig Wright induced an edge from Ian Blackwell.

Apart from a mighty six, Cork's role as a pinch-hitter proved unproductive, and he went, also caught behind off Wright, with his team at 24 for two off 10 overs.

The Scottish bowlers stuck to their task, backed by enthusiastic fielding, and runs remained at a premium. When Phil DeFreitas and Clarke had fallen in successive overs from Williamson, Derbyshire had staggered to a precarious 79 for five. Kim Barnett steadied the ship, and slowly Derbyshire began to take control only for the former England batsman to get a leading edge when on 37 to give Scott Gourlay an easy return catch.

At 116 for seven, the Scots were again on course, but they could not apply the killer punch as Karl Krikken and Gold Award winner Tim Tweats steered Derbyshire quietly home.