By Matt Somerford & Callum Dent
England secured a 39-run Duckworth/Lewis victory over Scotland in the rain-affected Royal London one-day international to get Peter Moores' second stint as Head Coach off to a winning start in Aberdeen.
Following a disappointing winter, it was imperative that Alastair Cook's side - now operating under the guidance of former Lancashire and Sussex coach Moores - started the new era with a victory in an encounter that was shortened from 23-overs a side to 20 following further precipitation throughout the day.
And that they did courtesy of a professional performance that saw Ian Bell hit his third half-century in five ODI innings and James Tredwell take four wickets.
Having lost the toss, England were boosted by a first-wicket stand of 83 between Bell and Cook, who made 50 and 44 respectively.
The pair were dismissed by Rob Taylor in the space of five overs to leave the visitors 113 for two in the 16th.
Taylor also produced a fine catch on the midwicket rope to remove Jos Buttler cheaply, a dismissal that started a mini-collapse of four wickets for just 24 runs, with Josh Davey taking 3-28 on his return to the Scotland side.
After Buttler's exit, Eoin Morgan and Joe Root, with 31 and 17 from 23 and six deliveries respectively, added late impetus as England posted 167 for six.
Chasing a revised target of 173, Scotland were up against it when James Anderson bowled both Matty Cross and Calum MacLeod in the opening three overs.
And when Tredwell took his second wicket, bowling skipper Kyle Coetzer for eight, Cook's side were in control.
But Aberdeen-born Michael Leask had other ideas, lighting up his home crowd with a stunning 16-ball 42 which included two fours and a quintet of maximums.
However, the right-hander's departure to the final ball of the 13th over following a fine catch from Anderson on the midwicket boundary ended Scotland's slim hopes, with Tredwell going on to complete figures of 4-41.
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Scotland Innings
7.49pm - ENGLAND WIN BY 34 RUNS! Sco 133/9; Haq 18, Evans 9 - The final ball of the innings sees Alasdair Evans slap Gurney down the ground for four. That means little as England claim an easy win on the Duckworth/Lewis method, handing Peter Moores his first victory in his second stint as Head Coach.
WICKET Jordan makes another catch look simple! Scotland 111-9 #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
7.35pm - WICKET! Wardlaw c Jordan b Bopara 2; Sco 111/9 - Former Yorkshire seamer Iain Wardlaw survives a tight run-out call following fine work from Eoin Morgan. But he goes next delivery, pulling a Bopara slower ball to Jordan at midwicket, his second catch.
7.26pm - WICKET! Mommsen b Jordan 9; Sco 104/8 - The wickets keep falling in Aberdeen, Jordan bowling Preston Mommsen. The end is near for Scotland.
7.21pm - Davey c Gurney b Tredwell 0; Sco 103/7 - The off-spinner collects his fourth wicket as Davey's reverse-sweep is caught by Gurney and the Somerset all-rounder departs for a golden duck.
7.17pm - Taylor c Jordan b Tredwell 1; Sco 101/6 - Rob Taylor holes out to cow corner, where Jordan takes a simple catch. Scotland need 74 off 34 balls.
7.11pm - WICKET! Leask c Anderson b Tredwell 42; Sco 95/5 - Tredwell finally has some success, ending Leask's brutal 16-ball innings, which included two fours and a quintet of sixes. A juggling Anderson collects at the second attempt on the midwicket boundary.
7.07pm - Leask continues his onslaught, taking Bopara for 10 in two deliveries before hitting Tredwell for back-to-back sixes. Fine hitting from the right-hander.
Leask taking on Tredwell. Back to back sixes! #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
7.02pm - WICKET! Machan c Bell b Bopara 33; Sco 70/4 - With the run-rate rising all the time, Machan takes the aerial route and, after not getting all of it, finds the hands of Bell running in from deep mid-off.
6.59pm - Leask then takes a liking to Tredwell, who sees the final two balls of his second over fly through cover for four and over deep midwicket for another maximum.
6.56pm - Michael Leask, one of four players in the Scotland squad to be born in Aberdeen, pulls the second ball he faces for six over deep midwicket in Ravi Bopara's first over.
So that's two wickets for @jimmy9& one for Tredwell! #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/cvU61D0878
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
6.51pm - WICKET! Coetzer b Tredwell 8; Sco 46/3 - James Tredwell's first delivery is reverse-swept for four by Machan. However, Coetzer can't play the off-spinner as fluently as his partner, failing to connect with a sweep that bowls him round his legs. Another soft dismissal for the hosts.
6.42pm - Jordan thinks he has Northamptonshire batsman Coetzer caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved.
6.41pm - Scotland take six runs from the seventh over, with Coetzer lifting Anderson over the in-field to the mid-on rope. The hosts require another 136 runs to win.
6.36pm - Matt Machan gets the better of his county team-mate in his opening over, lifting the paceman over mid-off to collect four. The required run-rate climbs above 10 per over.
Chris Jordan into the attack for @ECB_cricket and he's bowling to.... @mattmachan! #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 9, 2014
6.33pm - CHANCE! Anderson is denied a third wicket as Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer edges a fine delivery behind to Jos Buttler, who spills the opportunity. Chris Jordan replaces Gurney at the other end.
Here's the equation for Scotland. 173 to win. Currently 19-2 after 4 overs #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/yaBkXxgzz7
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
6.21pm - WICKET! MacLeod b Anderson 9; Sco18/2 - MacLeod hammers Anderson for another four, only for the bowler to gain his revenge next ball. The batsman, in the hope of flicking down to fine-leg, shuffles too far across his stumps and is bowled.
6.18pm - Harry Gurney's first over in international cricket goes for five runs.
.@gurneyhf opening the bowling for England. Here he was in training earlier this week http://t.co/clnIzIH7X9#ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
6.12pm - WICKET! Cross b Anderson 1; Sco 7/1 - Calum MacLeod cuts James Anderson's second delivery to the point boundary. But the Lancashire seamer strikes three balls later as Matty Cross plays on to his stumps. Scotland are chasing a revised target of 173.
England Innings
Jordan's range hitting on Weds comes in useful final ball - HUGE 6! England finish on 167-6 #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
5.56pm - END OF INNINGS! Eng 167/6; Jordan 6, Ballance 1 - Chris Jordan slams the final ball for six over Davey's head. That score will be slightly adjusted by the Duckworth/Lewis Method because of the rain in the middle of the innings.
5.55pm - Gary Ballance drives the hat-trick ball for a single. One ball left in the innings.
5.53pm - WICKET! Bopara c MacLeod b Davey 3; 160/6 - Davey is on a hat-trick as Bopara mis-times a lofted drive that long-on runs in to pouch comfortably.
5.51pm - WICKET! Root c Taylor b Davey 17; Eng 160/5 - A nice little cameo from Root as he strikes 17 from six balls before picking out Taylor on the midwicket rope.
5.48pm - Joe Root tries a reverse-scoop first ball. He has to adjust late and, while it looked ungamely, the ball goes to the rope. He then gets back-to-back boundaries to finish the penultimate over.
5.43pm - WICKET! Morgan c Cross b Wardlaw 31; Eng 140/4 - Morgan chases a wide one and gets a faint edge that Cross holds.
5.39pm - WICKET! Buttler c Taylor b Davey 9; Eng 136/3 - Another good catch in the deep does for Buttler. Again he got everything behind it but the tall figure of Taylor jumped to pluck the ball out of the air as it seemed destined to go for six.
5.34pm - Morgan guides Evans away to the third-man rope, before a mis-field allows new man Jos Buttler to pick up his first boundary through cover-point. England are 129 for two with three overs to go.
WICKET: Brilliant catch! Cook (44) looked like he'd hit it for 6 but MacLeod picked it out of the air. 113-2 #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
5.26pm - WICKET! Cook c MacLeod b Taylor 44; Eng 113/2 - A sharp chance taken by MacLeod on the long-off rope. Cook was not at his most fluent, but the skipper timed that drive well only for the Scotland man to intercept on the rope with a diving catch.
5.24pm - CHANCE! - Morgan survives a missed stumping on 16. The ball perhaps takes a slight deflection off his pad on the way through to Matty Cross.
5.21pm - Morgan brings up the England hundred with a huge straight six. Haq dished up a full-toss that the left-hander was not about to miss out on.
5.19pm - Morgan top-edges a lavish drive over backward point off Taylor, but the ball lands safe. Cook then lofts a well-hit cover-drive that is just beyond a diving Calum MacLeod as England reach 99 for one after 14 overs.
5.15pm - Cook is dropped off a no-ball at short fine-leg. The skipper is struggling to find his timing, but punches a two up the hill to keep ticking over.
Rainbow! And play too! England 90-1 #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/ZQTapWZU6F
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
5.10pm - The players are back out there and the game has been reduced to 20 overs. We are on the limit in terms of losing time now. Another rain delay might be terminal to this game. Let's hope not.
5.05pm - Play to restart at 5.10pm. No confirmation yet, but it is likely that the match will be reduced to 20 overs each.
5pm - After so much rain earlier in the day there is little scope for time delays. The rain has stopped so, hopefully, we can get back on soon.
4.51pm - RAIN STOPPED PLAY! - The rain has been coming down for about 10 minutes now and has got too heavy to continue on. England are 87 for one after 11.5 overs. Cook is unbeaten on 32 from 35 balls, while Eoin Morgan is the new man with a four from the ball before the weather took over.
4.48pm - WICKET! Bell b Taylor 50; Eng 83/1 - A delivery after reaching his fifty and Bell is bowled. He shuffled across his crease to try and shovel the ball to fine-leg but missed.
4.47pm - FIFTY! Bell (33b 4x4 2x6) - Bell effortlessly strokes Taylor back over his head for a six that plugs in the turf behind the rope. He then turns the left-armer away to bring up a half-century.
4.44pm - There are a few drops of rain in the air but the umpires appear happy to go on. England have rolled along to 75 without loss after 11 overs.
4.38pm - Bell welcomes Rob Taylor into the attack with a signature-style cover-drive to the rope. He then shows a defter touch through third man to move to 38 from 28 balls after 10 overs.
4.36pm - It is a game of cat and mouse out there between Haq and the England openers. The veteran off-spinner is really slowing up his deliveries to take any pace off on a sluggish surface, but Bell gets down the wicket and punches him over mid-off for six to bring up the 50-run partnership. Next ball is reverse-swept for four as England reach 59 for none after nine overs.
4.30pm - Cook survives a scare on 21 as he gets a leading edge to Josh Davey that falls just short of mid-off. That is an indication of how slow this wicket is after all the rain. The outfield is heavy too, so scoring does not appear easy.
4.28pm - England have taken five runs from the two overs after the powerplay. Scotland off-spinner Majid Haq allows just two in his first over.
4.19pm - Cook attacks Iain Wardlaw with back-to-back boundaries through the leg side before jamming down on a ball that kept lower than he expected as he shaped to pull again. England are 35 for none after the five-over powerplay.
4.11pm - England have made a solid start. Cook pulls away Alasdair Evans for a confident boundary to get going and with Bell they have taken 18 from the first three overs.
4.03pm - The first over of Peter Moores' second stint in charge has been bowled. England are five for none. Ian Bell survives a half-scare as he inside-edges his first ball away to a vacant fine-leg for four.
Pre-Play News
Congratulations to @gurneyhf on winning his first England cap. A proud moment for the @TrentBridge seamer #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/iLEegcG9vW
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
3.50pm - Just before we get started, there is enough time to read how debutant Gurney wants to make his mark with his death bowling.
3.45pm - Scotland team: KJ Coetzer (captain), I Wardlaw, MH Cross, JH Davey, AC Evans, RM Haq, MA Leask, MW Machan, CS MacLeod, PL Mommsen, RML Taylor.
England: Cook, Bell, Ballance, Root, Morgan, Buttler, Bopara, Jordan, Tredwell, Anderson, Gurney #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
3.32pm - SCOTLAND WIN THE TOSS & BOWL - It is an England debut by Notts left-armer Harry Gurney. The two players to miss out from the 13-man squad are Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.
3.15pm - We have a start time! The umpires are happy to begin at 4pm with a 3.30pm toss. It will be a 23-over contest - weather permitting.
Gurney target bowling at Loughborough this week - definitely looking for a yorker! WATCH - http://t.co/clnIzIH7X9pic.twitter.com/VOT5CtFWFI
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
3.03pm - There is no official word yet from the umpires as to what time, or if, the game will start. It is just that one area that appears to be holding us up at present. The groundstaff are now hoovering up the sawdust in an attempt to try and remove more of the moisture.
2.56pm - Cook is speaking to the umpires near that area of concern. The groundstaff have covered the take-off area with sawdust.
2.40pm - The umpires are going to inspect again at 2.50pm. The key area of concern is the run-up at one end where the bowlers take off into their delivery stride. The groundstaff have their pitchforks out now and are prodding away trying the dry the area. The head groundsman actually dislocated his elbow earlier today - he's watching on but hopes the surface will be fit to go in 30 minutes.
2.25pm - More good news to report. The players are warming up on the outfield.
Big cheer as the covers are dragged off by the Mannofield groundsmen #ScotvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
Sun shining in Aberdeen now. We await result of latest inspection #SCOvENGpic.twitter.com/CrtPdlho2d
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) May 9, 2014
2pm - Hopes are at least being raised that we could get some play this afternoon. The coaches and players are emerging to get a glimpse of sunnier skies.
Watch the final part of our interview with Paul Farbrace - this time he talks about winning and world class players http://t.co/YQJ2v68KNw
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
1.47pm -There will be a further inspection at 2.15pm. The weather is starting to do the right thing now and the groundstaff are busily working away to remove the covers and dry a sodden outfield.
Some good news at last as the covers are coming off in Aberdeen. We might get some play after all! #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/PZURtFs4eP
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
1.35pm - Whisper it quietly but the weather is improving in Aberdeen - it could hardly have got worse. It's a timely change too with the umpires assessing conditions.
Some blue sky over Aberdeen - something that didn't look too likely a few moments ago #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/wbRjwsq9Wt
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
1.22pm - The umpires are set to head out in a moment to conduct their inspection of the ground. It has been a frustrating day so far, but at least there is some hope of play, unlike two years ago when England's planned ODI at Edinburgh was called off a month in advance due to flooding.
Third part of our chat with Paul Farbrace - he talks about coach Peter Moores and how their partnership will develop http://t.co/SSrcMfoOTL
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
1pm - The umpires have decided to take an early lunch due to the weather. The rain is not likely to shift in the next half hour before their inspection so it is a decision made to try and increase the amount of playing time by as much as possible.
12.43pm – It’s just seven days until the start of the NatWest T20 Blast. Our video below shows a few stars who will be in the mix.
12.27pm - The umpires will make an inspection at 1.30pm. Fingers and legs crossed for some brighter weather before then. Cook and Ian Bell walked out to the middle earlier and it appeared to be quite damp under foot. The groundstaff have since been hard at work removing the surface water.
Part 2 of our chat with Paul Farbrace. In this episode he says chance to work with England was too good to turn down http://t.co/g4hAzz6I2V
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
Still pelting it down in Aberdeen. Here's the view from the soggy press tent. #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/pSTC2GgiGT
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
11.59am - A picture from sunnier days at Mannofield Park. Australia great Don Bradman leading his side on to the field for his last first-class match on British soil. He made a century that day.
11.40am - Chris Jordan was one of the good news stories of the winter. The Sussex all-rounder is not about to get carried away, though, as he looks to build on a promising start to his international career this summer.
11.20am - There are a few hardy souls who are remaining in the stands waiting for a start. Hopefully that is a sign of local knowledge about the weather rather than blind optimism. The forecast for later this afternoon is better though.
We had a long chat with assistant coach Paul Farbrace earlier this week. Here's part one on winning the World T20 http://t.co/2ThiosugSj
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
11am - There is not much more to update about the weather on the hour. The fine rain is still hanging frustratingly in the air and all the covers remain bedded down.
The two umpires join us live @bbctms and are optimistic we may get some play later. We can start as late as 4.17pm pic.twitter.com/qbzoQ3Gsug
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) May 9, 2014
10.41am - Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer has returned to his home city for this clash and he spoke beforehand about his desire to see his side test themselves against England.
The cut off point to get a 20 over a side game in Aberdeen is 4.17pm. Weather is due to improve this afternoon
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) May 9, 2014
10.30am - The scheduled start time has been missed. The rain continues to fall so it is a case of waiting for a break in the weather so the groundstaff can get out and dry the outfield.
Watch @josbuttler during a rather impressive keeping session yesterday under Paul Farbrace's supervision #ScotvEnghttp://t.co/hgyKU7MHpn
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
10.22am - Harry Gurney will be hoping the rain ends more than most. The left-armer has admitted it would be one of the best days of his life if he is handed his England debut today.
Three kits. One team. The new @ECB_cricket ODI kit on-field today against @CricketScotland. http://t.co/ERpA5tOSvMpic.twitter.com/v33F5fMfHK
— adidas Cricket (@adidascricket) May 9, 2014
10.09am - England captain Alastair Cook spoke yesterday about the potential banana-skin fixture his side faces against Scotland.
Might be a different sounding @bbctms theme at 1015 today #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/74gPaBK16P
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) May 9, 2014
10.02am - The toss has been delayed, as expected. The covers are on and there is no sign of movement from the groundstaff just at the moment.
There was better weather yesterday when England trained at Mannofield. Here's a video of the team in action #ScotvEnghttp://t.co/Ww0jZ58O7E
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014
9.52am - As you can tell from the picture below it seems as though the toss, which was scheduled for 10am, is set to be delayed. A start time of 10.30am also appears ambitious at this stage, but fingers crossed.
Battening down the hatches of the @bbctms caravan to protect us from the Aberdeen rain. On air 1015. Fingers crossed pic.twitter.com/nrMfs3ZLAx
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) May 9, 2014
9.45am – Hello and welcome to our live blog coverage of the one-off one-day international between Scotland and England in Aberdeen. We’ll be keeping you up to date with events through the day at Mannofield Park.
Good morning from Aberdeen. The picture says it all unfortunately. It's rather grim at the moment #ScotvEngpic.twitter.com/lSlNyTJISp
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) May 9, 2014