SALTIRES skipper Ryan Watson refused to throw in the towel despite seeing the Saltires slump to a fourth straight loss in the Friends Provident Trophy at Headingley.
It had all looked so promising for Watson and his men after setting a competitive total of 244 and having reduced a powerful Yorkshire side to 59-2 in reply.
But Yorkshire were indebted to the strength of their batting line-up as former England i
nternationalist Anthony McGrath scored his first century of what has been a difficult season thus far.
The seven-wicket loss was tough on Watson and his men after they had amassed their highest score in their last 12 matches in this competition.
"We felt confident that we could win," said Watson. "We now have to focus on this performance and take it into every game we play.
"We will stick to our game plans and if everyone performs and chips in then you can't ask for more."
The day belonged to veteran Yorkshire skipper Darren Gough, who confirmed he will finally hang up his spikes at the end of the season.
Gough, who made his first-class debut in 1989 and played 58 Tests and 159 one-day internationals for England, emerged as Yorkshire's most successful bowler on the day as he ended with three wickets for 40 runs.
"I think I've had a good innings. It's time to call it a day," said the 37-year-old.
"Although Yorkshire asked me if I would stay for another year, I thought the time was right for me to call it a day at the end of September."
Former Yorkshire all-rounder, Gavin Hamilton, got the Saltires off to a good start by featuring in an opening stand of 90 with Ryan Watson. But both Scotland openers fell in consecutive overs, Watson being bowled on his off-stump by Gough after hitting him for two consecutive fours and Hamilton being taken at square leg by Richard Pyrah off Adil Rashid.
Colin Smith ensured a respectable score with a powerful 60 off 70 balls with four fours and a six and he was sixth out at 216 when he was bowled by Pyrah, who had proved expensive earlier in his spell.
But then McGrath and Jacques Rudolph put the home side in charge in reply with a record-breaking stand for the third wicket of 164 in 29 overs as Yorkshire cruised to the winning line with 9.2 overs to spare.
McGrath, who began with a flurry of boundaries, finished with an unbeaten 105 off 99 deliveries with 15 fours while Rudolph's 82 contained eight fours and a six and came off 96 balls.
McGrath had let off when on four when he survived a sharp chance to Dewald Nel at slip off the bowling of Gordon Goudie but he then rattled up his first 30 runs off 15 balls.
South African left-hander Rudolph then played some dazzling shots but after slamming Goudie for four and six off consecutive balls he attempted to drive over the top and was caught at deep mid-off by Nel.
Before McGrath and Rudolph came together, Craig White fell cheaply to Nel but opening partner Andrew Gale made sure Yorkshire got up to the required rate with a rapid 33 off 36 balls with three fours and a six.
Saltires were handicapped to some extent by losing former Yorkshire paceman, John Blain, with a shoulder injury after the opening bowler had sent down three overs for 17 runs.
Scotland's hampered attack proved expensive, allowing McGrath to see the job through.
Scotland 244 (C J O Smith 60, R R Watson 54) v Yorkshire 245-3 (A McGrath 105 no, J A Rudolph 82) Yorkshire won by 7 wkts.
The full article contains 634 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
