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World Cup debutants Scotland mown down by the West Indies

LEICESTER, Thursday - Grace Road, where two famous cricketing sons of Sri Lanka - Stanley Jayasinghe and Clive Inman are fondly remembered for their contributions to Leicestershire in the Sixties was bathed in sunshine today. But the cricket action the 5,000 spectators who basked in the sun got was less than half of what they were entitled for.

World Cup debutants Scotland were mown down by the West Indies fire power to be dismissed for 68 runs off 31.3 overs - the second lowest total in the competition and West Indies despite losing two wickets coasted home to win by eight wickets to provide the first finish to a World Cup match before lunch. The match overall lasted for only 41.4 overs out of a possible 100.

The lowest total in the World Cup is 45 by Canada against England at Old Trafford in 1979, and Scotland were in danger of being bowled out for under that score when they were reduced to 29 for 7. But Gavin Hamilton, Scotland's promising all-rounder ensured they wouldn't suffer that ignominy by going onto make a top score of 24 not out off 43 balls, while the rest of the batting succumbed to pace.

Scotland surprisingly opted to bat first after winning the toss and against the West Indies pace battery of Ambrose, Walsh, Bryon and King their inexperience was totally exposed.

Eight of the wickets fell to catches behind and two others were lbw victims. Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs snared the first four with Stuart Williams at first slip holding onto three and Phil Simmons one.

Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, the senior citizens of the West Indies side at 35 and 36 years of age, ended with some remarkable figures in the overs-limit game. Ambrose had figures of 10-4-8-2 , but Walsh with 7-1-7-3 took the 'Man of the Match' award. Reon King, a new generation of emerging West Indian pace bowlers finished the innings off by taking 2 for 9 off 9 balls.

The only bright spark for Scotland was that they forced West Indies captain Brian Lara to come to the batting crease by sending back two batsmen cheaply for 22. Phil Simmons miscued a drive and Williams was trapped in front of the wicket. Both wickets were taken by fast bowler John Blain, the youngest member of the team at 20.

Lara provided the final flourish to the West Indies batting by taking 17 off Hamilton's only over. He finished unbeaten on 25 off 17 balls, while left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul made a run-a-ball 30. By finishing the match off in 10.1 overs West Indies have effectively improved their net run rate which could prove useful when they meet Australia in a crucial Group 'B' game at Old Trafford on Sunday.