Inverclyde 131 all out (25 pts)

Hillhead 2nd X1 71 all out (0 pts)

INVERCLYDE had a winning start to the 2021 cricket season with a fine team performance against Hillhead Seconds in the WDCU Division 3 fixture played at Gourock Park on Saturday in their first match since 2019.

The visitors won the toss and asked the locals to bat first on the slow wicket.

However, Inverclyde’s openers Dave Cooke and Cammy Gunn batted well against the accurate bowling attack until Cooke was bowled for 17 at 37 for one in the 14th over.

David Thomson joined Gunn in an important second wicket partnership that added 45 runs in good time until Thomson was bowled in the 24th over with the score on 82 for two.

Douglas Pilkington further supported Gunn who passed his half century in the 30th over, but he was dismissed for 51, which included six boundaries, in the next over when he was caught at gully after mistiming his cut shot.

Pilkington hit three boundaries in an attempt to increase the run rate in the closing overs but was well caught at point for 16 at 114 for four in the 34th over.

Tommy McDade, Gareth James and Stuart Callison added some useful runs in the closing overs but six wickets fell cheaply, including two run outs, in a late search for runs, and the innings closed in the 40th over when Callison was caught in the covers leaving Inverclyde all out for 131.

With a relatively small total to defend, Inverclyde needed a good start from their opening bowlers but the Hillhead batsmen settled in well. Their partnership was worth 49 runs in 14 overs, and the visitors were on course for victory, when first change bowler Elizabeth McInnes changed the match over her next three overs when she took three wickets for three runs.

Firstly she had hard-hitting Collins well caught for 30 by Gunn at deep square leg, then in her next over bowled Jain and then had Vijay caught at point by Thomson.

In the meantime, captain James had bowled his counterpart Thornhill with the ball of the match that took the top of off stump. From 49 for no wicket after 14 overs the visitors had slumped to 55 for four after 19 overs, with Inverclyde now in a strong position.

After a disappointing opening spell changing ends brought its rewards for Paul Singh who then bowled both opener Dabell and Mair, with the visitors in disarray at 55 for six.

Tom Watson and James both held good caught and bowled chances, then Billy Hair had Butt caught behind by Pilkington.

James rounded off a fine display by the local side when he bowled Murray with the visitors all out for 71 in the 26th over. James finished with three for nine, McInnes three for 14, Singh two for 24, with one apiece for Watson and Hair.

Captain James was pleased with the winning start to the season with a good squad performance, in the first match for 21 months.

Inverclyde now meet local rivals Glenpark on Saturday in their next game.

More information about Inverclyde Cricket Club can be found at their website at www.inverclydecricket.co.uk