Sitemap
William Dick • Published 26 Jul 2010 13:59
0 Comments
GREENOCK may have fallen to their 11th defeat of the season on Saturday but they made title favourites Grange work hard for their win at Raeburn Place.
Indeed, for long spells it was difficult to believe the length of the premier division table separates these two old rivals as Kevin McLaren's men matched their more fancied opponents before going down by just three wickets.
It did not look good for the visitors when Andy Hislop fell early on and a total of 188 looked well short of what might be required against a star-studded home batting line-up.
However, Greenock's bowlers stuck impressively to their task and benefited from having Scotland star Richie Berrington and Lions pace bowler Willie Rowan in place to share the new ball for only the second time this season.
Both players picked up early wickets and their overall contribution left visiting supporters musing on what might have been had these two been more regularly available during the campaign.
Sadly, Saturday could prove to be Berrington's final game of the season as international commitments kick in.
The Scotland all-rounder accounted for Grange skipper Sanjay Patel, caught behind by Hislop, while Rowan bowled the dangerous Ollie Hairs for 10 as the hosts were quickly reduced to 42-2.
Dougie Wylie then maintained the pressure with an excellent spell of left-arm spin that brought 2-33.
When Wylie trapped Ian Worth and former Warwickshire batsman Michael Powell in quick succession, Grange looked in trouble on 77-4.
Instead, the Edinburgh side demonstrated their strength in depth when Stuart Moffat and Simon Smith compiled a crucial stand for the fifth wicket.
Former Scotland rugby cap Moffat contributed 36 to the partnership before being caught by Alex Baum off Chris Bellwood but Smith saw his team over the winning line with a defiant unbeaten 50.
Smith had also proved a thorn in Greenock's side during the first half with an excellent display behind the stumps.
The experienced wicketkeeper has lost his place in the Scotland side this season but the national selectors will surely take note of his four catches and the stumping of Courtney Kruger.
Following Hislop's dismissal, Greenock briefly rallied with Rowan and Berrington again to the fore.
However, just as he was getting into the groove on 22, Berrington nicked a Powell delivery to give Smith his first catch.
Rowan played the one major innings with a defiant 58.
GREENOCK: A Hislop c Moffat b Adams 4; W Rowan c Smith b Weir 58; R Berrington c Smith b Powell 22; K McLaren c Smith b Powell 5; C Bellwood lbw b Adams 6; C Kruger st Smith b Weir 31; S Prabhu lbw b Adams 0; A Baum b Thomas 22; R Begley c Smith b Adams 2; J Hempsey not out 7; R Wyllie lbw b Weir 1; Extras 30.
Total (45.4 overs) 188. Fall: 1-4 2-59 3-84 4-107 5-113 6-113 7-164 8-177 9-183 10-188
Bowling: Adams 9-1-39-4 Thomas 7-1-32-1 Gray 6-0-31-0 Powell 8-2-28-2 Coles 5-0-18-0 Weir 7.4-1-26-3 Worth 3-0-10-0
GRANGE: O Hairs b Rowan 10;S Patel c Hislop b Berrington 8; ;L Worth lbw b Wylie 34; M Powell lbw b Wylie 14; S Moffat c Baum b Bellwood 36; S Smith not out 50; C Coles lbw b Bellwood 10; R Adams b Rowan 7; J Gray not out 1; Extras 19
Total (for 7, 42 overs) 189. Fall: 1-15 2-42- 3-74 4-77 5-154 6-169 7-183
Bowling: Rowan 6-0-38-2 Berrington 10-1-37-1 Wylie 10-1-33-2 Bellwood 10-0-48-2 McLaren 6-0-24-0
Greenock Cricket Club is grateful for the support of the following: Match Ball Sponsor - Richard Robb Architects
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 26 Jul 10
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
Talk of the Towns
Your social, local Business Directory - It's in Inverclyde | It's in The Directory | Directory Network
Copyright ©2012 Greenock Telegraph, 2 Crawfurd Street Greenock PA15 1LH • Tel: 01475 726511 • Fax: 01475 783734
