VETERAN seamer David Leatherdale steadied Worcestershire's nerves as they hit back to deny Scotland their second totesport League win on the trot.

Replying to the Royals' total of 128 in an encounter shortened to 22 overs a side, the Saltires could not up the pace when it mattered and they finished 10 adrift of victory.

Leatherdale struck the decisive blows by trapping West Indian Floyd Reifer lbw then shattering the stumps of Gregor Maiden and Fraser Watts in a spell of three for 28.

Earlier, the Saltires recovered strongly after being punished in the opening overs. Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki amassed 29 in quick time before Hick and Andrew Hall perished.

Even better was to come for the Scots when Ben Smith was brilliantly pouched one-handed at slip by Ryan Watson.

The collapse continued as Leatherdale exited to leave the visitors on 63-4. Almost immediately, Stewart Bruce celebrated his Scotland debut by removing danger man Solanki when he had reached 36 from 30 balls.

Soon it was 69 for five as Bruce found the edge of Gareth Batty. Steve Moore and Kabir Ali steadied the Worcestershire ship for a while, carrying the tally to 109. But the rot set in again after Moore was trapped lbw by Watson for 10.

His departure left the stage clear for Sridharan Sriram to finish the job, with the help of wicketkeeper Dougie Lockhart.

The Indian took the scalps of Kabir (33 from 38 balls), Matt Mason (0) and Nadeem Malik (4) -- all stumped.