Clackmannan  County  Cricket Club 1st XI  followed up last week’s victory over Holy Cross with a hard fought win against Murrayfield DAFS 2s at Muirfield.
Murrayfield won the toss and elected to bat but struggled initially, Matthew Booth taking a wicket with the second ball of the game. Clackmannan opening bowlers Booth and Graeme Anderson were then put under pressure by the home sides other opening batsman, Black,  who began to find the boundary with ease.  However, in the 16th over Anderson dismissed Black for 29, leaving Murrayfield on 41 for 2. Murrayfield then lost four wickets in quick succession, with Dan Smith and Ash Rasul taking one wicket each, and Zahid Hussain, playing in his first game this season, taking two. The two Murrayfield batsmen then put on a stand of 35 for the seventh wicket before Booth dismissed Murrayfields Banks for 33. Murrayfields opening bowler Coull, batting at number nine, then proceeded to play aggressively, smashing balls to the leg side boundary before eventually being stumped by keeper Paul Hooper off the bowling of Smith. The number ten batsman, Simpson, was caught by Anderson of the bowling of Smith two balls later. Murrayfields final pair of batsmen survived to the end of the fifty overs, with their team posting a competitive score of 154 for 9.
The Clackmannan opening pair of Gordon and Alan Oliver set about the run chase confidently, before Gordon was caught brilliantly at slip for 3. This brought Ken Hutchison to the crease, he immediately looked comfortable, striking two lofted off drives to the boundary, before gloving the ball to the keeper for 10. Skipper Anderson came to the crease, but was extremely unfortunate to be run out when batting partner Alan Oliver pulled up injured, leaving Anderson stranded half way down the pitch. Oliver departed soon after, for a patient 22. This left Clackmannan sitting on 40 for 4 after 14 overs, but an excellent partnership of 49 by Ash Rasul and Zahid Hussain brought Clackmannan back into the game, before Rasul departed for 25. This brought Graham Oliver to the crease, however, he was dismissed for 0, to a superb diving catch. Dan Smith then joined the well set Hussain and the pair put on 47, before Hussain was dismissed for a superb 39, with the score on 136. Paul Hooper and Smith saw Clackmannan home with Hooper finishing on 12 not out and Smith on 27 not out.  Final total for Clackmannan  155 for 7, another 20 points to the good but still trailing Preston Village, albeit by less than one percentage point.  A good win for an understrength Clackmannan side, however, all credit to the clubs coaching system that, over the years, all but two of the players started with the club as juniors.  It was notable too that both Ken Hutchison and Graeme Anderson took three catches each in the Murrayfield innings. 
This Saturday, Clackmannan ones are at home to Edinburgh University staff, the local side looking for revenge after the defeat at Uni’s hands earlier in the season.