Greenock make the long trip south on Saturday to play against Dumfries at their Nunholm ground. The match is the second of 18 fixtures in this season’s Western Premiership Two.
The Glenpark team will be looking to make amends for a disappointing result against Langside in their opening league match last Saturday, when they were heavily beaten by the Glasgow southsiders.
A lack of match practice prior to the start of the competitive season was certainly an issue for the team and improved form will be looked for this weekend in the match at the fine Nunholm ground.
Opponents Dumfries made a positive start in their Western Premiership Two league programme last Saturday with a comfortable six-wicket home win over Helensburgh. Chasing 174, the south of Scotland side were never in trouble as they cruised past their target with 15 overs still available.
Man of the match for Dumfries was Munro Cubbin who took one wicket for 21 runs from 10 overs, then opened the batting and anchored the home side’s innings with an unbeaten 69 runs.
The Nunholm team got off to a good start to their run chase with an opening partnership of 55 runs between Cubbin and Stuart Corbett-Byers (28). And then a further useful partnership between Cubbin and Lachlan Friend (37) for the second wicket, took the team to 125 and within sight of their target.
Partnerships are what Greenock must try and find when they bat on Saturday if the team is to build a meaningful total. And to do so will require the batters to be willing to have patience and to deal with each ball received on merit.
In a 50-overs-a-side match, singles can be as important as boundaries; what is important is for the batters to stay out in the middle and not give away easy wickets to their opponents.
On Saturday, much may depend on the team’s two Australian amateurs, Adam McGuirk and Toby Matthews. Both have shown an ability with the bat, and need time to adapt to Scottish conditions.
The Nunholm ground at Dumfries could be the place for them both to show what they can do; it is a fine cricket ground and one where good scores can be achieved.
But Greenock cannot rely solely on these two players. It is a team game and others must be able to contribute if a positive result is to occur on Saturday.
Team captain Aryan Sanghera has been opening the innings regularly over the past season or two and has had some good scores. Opening the innings, he has a responsibility, along with his opening partner, to see off the opponents' bowling attack and to set off the innings as soundly as possible. Not losing early wickets is usually key to building a good total.
On Saturday, Sanghera will be joined by Aussie amateur McGuirk, who has arrived in Scotland after a fine season for his club ‘down under’, and who will be keen to show his batting capabilities.
Others in the side who will be keen to get runs include Cammy Calder, Shailesh Prabhu and Matthews, who scored a fine 51 runs last Saturday against Langside.
While batting and scoring runs is important, Greenock will be very aware that limiting their opposition to as few runs as possible will also be a crucial factor in the match at Dumfries.
Greenock’s opening bowling attack is likely to feature Fahim Dinarkiel’s left arm pace alongside Toby Matthews' right-arm off spin. Both bowlers will need to be accurate, with a good length and line, in order to contain Cubbin and Corbett at the top of the Dumfries batting order.
Some early wickets, of course, would be welcomed by Greenock supporters and would give the team confidence to go on and work through the remainder of the Dumfries team.
Last Saturday chances were created but numerous catches were missed. There is a well known phrase ‘catches win matches’ and it is a mantra that Greenock fielders need to live up to.
The match at Dumfries is one that, having lost at Langside in the opening league match, Greenock will be keen to win.
The team for Saturday’s match at Dumfries will be from: A. Sanghera (capt), Mu Ahmadzai, P.J. Bryceland , C.S. Calder, F. Dinarkheil, J.P.C. Hempsey, U. Mansoor, T. Matthews, G.J. McDougall, A. McGuirk (Wk), S.S. Prabhu, R. Singh, K. Thapa.
Greenock's second XI, Glenpark, open their league season with a match at home to their Dumfries counterparts, Nunholm. The action at Glenpark starets at 12 noon.
This weekend's Greenock cricket action concludes on Sunday when the club's third XI open their Sunday League season with a trip to Paisley to play Kelburne.
Greenock Cricket Club is sponsored by The Ethos Group.
