GAVIN HAMILTON'S five wickets for 16 would have given special pleasure to Jim Love both as Scotland's director of coaching and as a former Yorkshire batsman yesterday.

Rain denied Yorkshire a clear opportunity of going to the top of the AXA League table with what should have been an easy victory over Hampshire at Headingley, they remain second, but Hamilton announced himself as a prize capture for Scotland to compete in next year's World Cup group against Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Hamilton, 23, Broxburn-born in a cricketing family, telephoned Love on Friday to pledge himself to Scotland and effectively end his England aspirations, a decision he made reluctantly.

His seven overs of destruction yesterday was perfectly timed, as it took him to the top of the season's AXA League overall wickets list with a total of 14.

Against Hampshire he bowled fast and straight to exploit a pitch of variable bounce, bowling four of his victims through defensive strokes, including Giles White, who left his final ball.