Scotland nearly pulls off an upset against New Zealand XI in Daniel Vettori's comeback match

Alasdair Evans of Scotland is consoled by Martin Guptill of New Zealand XI after being run out on the last ball during the tour match between the New Zealand XI and Scotland

An almost full-strength New Zealand side were given a scare in their first home game this season, when Scotland came very close to staging an upset in a 50-over tour game in Lincoln today. This was a 12-player a side game, with 11 players fielded while bowling and batting.

New Zealand were playing their regulars, save for Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, making it still a more than strong side for the associates.

Put in by Scotland to bat first, New Zealand put 263 on board, but only after Kyle Mills and Matt Henry were involved in a 55-run stand for the last wicket. Skipper Brendon McCullum (52) and Corey Anderson (53) struck half-centuries but didn’t get equal support from other batsmen.

In reply, on the back of half-centuries from Hamish Gardiner (54), Matt Machan (83) and Freddie Coleman (56), Scotland got close, needing 21 runs with the last pair in the middle. In the last over, the duo of Alasdair Evans and Majid Haq required 7 runs to win. Despite getting a four off the inside edge off Mithcell McClenaghan, Evans couldn’t muster the 2 runs required off the last 3 deliveries, playing two consecutive dots, followed by a scramble for a single, but was fabulously run out by skipper McCullum, giving New Zealand a 1-run win.

Brendon McCullum (C) of New Zealand XI runs out Alasdair Evans of Scotland on the last ball during the tour match between the New Zealand XI and Scotland

For New Zealand, veteran Daniel Vettori made a comeback, trying to make a comeback for the World Cup at home. The major issue with Vettori would be his fitness, and the left-armer bowled his quota of 10 overs on the day, giving away 43 runs without a wicket.

Here’s the tense final over, where Scotland so nearly pulled off an incredible win: