Published: Monday, 19th May, 2008 12:00
Greenock clean up
By Roger Graham
Print Article
Driving force: Greenock professional Tim McIntosh executes a crashing four at Goldenacre on Saturday.
GREENOCK returned to winning ways at Goldenacre on Saturday with a victory as deserved as it was clear-cut.
They have some way to go before they can be considered to have hauled themselvs back into title contention, but the champions were in full control at a sun-bathed but bitterly cold Edinburgh.
The bowlers having put the mainline Heriot’s batting to the sword, at one stage reducing them to 35 for five, an imperious batting display by Tim McIntosh and Richie Berrington delivered the coup de grace.
The end came with over 12 overs remaining for play, McIntosh carrying his bat for an unbeaten 78, including three sixes.
Berrington’s 62 also contained two maximums and was a firm statement of intent to the international selectors.
Sean Weeraratna did his cause with the Scotland camp no harm either with three wickets. The down side to such form is thatthe Glenpark men may find themselves four men down at some stage in the season when the Scots come calling.
Greenock began the afternoon with 14-year-old Alex Baum in for skipper Craig Wright, whose back spasm trouble had led him to call off.
I don’t know of anyone younger to have made his debut for the Glenpark club, and he did nothing wrong, taking one very fine catch low down at third man which would have tested the nerves of far more experienced performers.
It will have been an excellent experience for a young man who has a lot of cricket in front of him.
In eight overs, Greenock made the breakthrough when Dewal Nel forced home pro Farrell to edge to slips where he was pouched by McIntosh. In the following over Sean Weeraratna bowled Stevie Knox and Greenock had made a serious dent in the home batting at 21 for two wickets.
The procession to the clubhouse continued when Azhar was trapped lbw by Weeraratna, then came that fine catch by Baum at third man, taking it low down near his ankles to remove McIntyre, providing Weeraratna with his third victim.
Tim McIntosh and Richie Berrington then replaced the opening bowlers, Berrington having Litster well held at third man by Jonathan Hempsey. At 35 for five, the men from the capital were staggering like a decent Glasgow drunk on a Friday night.
Ritchie and Goddard returned a semblance of sobriety to the innings, however, with a solid partnership which gradually restored some equilibrium. Ritchie lofted Berrington for six over square leg to make it 62 for five in the 27th over, going on to record his half century in the 34th over.
Just as Greenock were no doubt feeling that their hosts were being let off the hook, they got the wicket they needed most, Ritchie succumbing to a Ryan Begley catch off Berrington.
It was now 96 for six in 38 overs. Eddington was providing some decent resistence and, when Goddard fell with the total 121, he continued with the aid of Hardwick to ensure that respectability was maintained.
The final total of 157 may not have been formidable, but Goldenacre is not noted for its high scores and Greenock would have to apply themselves.
Pinch-hitter Weeraratna was trapped leg before to make it 24 for one, but thereafter Greenock batted with a combination of assurance and growing confidence, McIntosh and Berrington seldom in any trouble at all.
After the interval they began to carry the game in increasingly aggressive fashion to Heriot’s, McIntosh hitting three big sixes, and Berrington two as they upped the tempo.
Berrington, having struck Ritchie for six, was finally caught behind next ball going for another big shot but, at 152 for two, the result had long since been a foregone conclusion.
Stumps were finally drawn after the first ball of the 38th over when McIntosh struck Farouk for four to restore Greenock to the top half of the Premier table.
The champions have much to do yet to get into a true challenging position, especially given the random nature of the points system and the liklihood of international call-ups, but it was a genuinely impressive display.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
McGuffie goal rounds off long week
