Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Graeme Anderson

On Saturday Clackmannan County first eleven entertained Largo II at the Arns. With some overnight rain the match was scheduled to take place on the artificial wicket, however their was a breakdown in communication between the Largo players, and the message was not communicate. After some last minute negotiations the game was moved to a wet grass wicket with the match being delayed until 1:30. Largo won the toss and asked the County to bat first.
In difficult conditions the counties opening batsmen Graeme Anderson and Geoff Logan had moved the score to 22 in the 6th over, before a heavy downpour caused a short 20 minute delay before play resumed. With the wet outfield both batsmen were having to work hard for every run they scored, with boundaries a rarity. Another 50 partnership for the two openers was brought up in the 13th over and they continued their good work until Logan was caught out for 40 in the 17th over. With the score on 66.
Craig Black joined Anderson at the crease and helped to move the score to 96 as he adjusted to the wicket, before Anderson departed in the 23rd over. Gordon Oliver made his way out to the middle, as the outfield had now started to dry out boundaries were more frequent. Oliver’s’ first four scoring shots being boundaries. Meanwhile Black was looking in good form as he past 50.
Black and Oliver managed to put on a partnership of 92, before a pulled calf muscle resulted in Oliver’s dismissal for 41. Clackmannan were well placed with 188 on the board from 35 overs with 7 wickets in hand, looking to push on further. Tippu Sultan was sent in to entertain the spectators which he did with two boundaries and one massive six. Before being bowled for 15.
Alan and Graham Oliver were unable to repeat the success of last week, as the innings had now reached the stage where batsmen didn’t have too much time to set themselves before trying to attack. Black by now had moved into the nineties as Keith Hefer joined him. Having been dismissed in the nineties on a few occasions his team-mates were hoping that this time he would succeed, and after moving to 95, a massive 6 over deep square leg brought him his first hundred for the first eleven.
With the score on 252 from 45 overs, Black and Hefer continued to smash the ball to all parts of the ground. By the 50th over the innings had closed on 303 for 6 wickets, with Black unbeaten on 129 and Hefer on 19.
After the tea break, Clackmannan set out to attack Largo, knowing that they needed to score at a run a ball if they were to win. Tipu Sultan and Rizwan Ashraf opened the bowling and beat the bat with frustrating regularity. The only wicket to fall in the first 10 overs went to Ashraf, as Graham Oliver took a good catch at Gully in the 4th over of the innings.
It wasn’t until the 12th over that the second wicket fell as Ashraf bowled Nadeem Ali (8), followed by Sultan removing Tom Murdoch (15) in the very next over, with only 31 on the board. Black replaced Ashraf as Largo struggled for runs, taking until the 17th over to get to 33 when Sultan produced an edge from the batsmen, which Wicketkeeper Logan gladly accepted.
Sultan had bowled straight through his 10 overs, picking up 2 wickets for only 19 runs, Hefer replaced him and struck in his second over, Anderson taking the catch at cover. By 25 overs Largo had only managed 43 runs with 5 wickets down. With some dark clouds looming, Clackmannan hurried through their overs to ensure that they reached the 30 overs needed for a result to stand. However by the 30th over Largo were 8 wickets down with only 54 on the board. Black took the 3 wickets during this spell, bowled, LBW and another catch for Logan. Geoff Logan was showing his class by keeping up to the stumps to Black, who many believe to be the quickest bowler in the league.
Thankfully the dark clouds were replaced by sunshine, but with Largo needing to reach 75 for a batting point their tail enders weren’t about to give up easily. After battling it out until the 39th over and achieving their goal, Matthew Booth Claimed the penultimate wicket as sub fielder Calum Lyons held a skier at point. Kash Ali replaced Booth and struck with his 2nd ball with Graham Oliver taking another good catch. Largo all out for 93 giving Clackmannan victory by 210 runs. Black was the pick of the bowlers with 10 overs, 7 maidens, 3 wickets for only 4 runs all of which came behind square.
A truly great team performance with everyone contributing. Hopefully the team can keep it up.

Match Report
Clackmannan County 1st XI v Largo 2nd XI
Click here to view scorecard
Date 28/6/2008	Venue The Arns, Alloa	Result win for CCCC	Weather Drizzle cloud
By Graeme Anderson On Saturday Clackmannan County first eleven entertained Largo II at the Arns. With some overnight rain the match was scheduled to take place on the artificial wicket, however their was a breakdown in communication between the Largo players, and the message was not communicate. After some last minute negotiations the game was moved to a wet grass wicket with the match being delayed until 1:30. Largo won the toss and asked the County to bat first. In difficult conditions the counties opening batsmen Graeme Anderson and Geoff Logan had moved the score to 22 in the 6th over, before a heavy downpour caused a short 20 minute delay before play resumed. With the wet outfield both batsmen were having to work hard for every run they scored, with boundaries a rarity. Another 50 partnership for the two openers was brought up in the 13th over and they continued their good work until Logan was caught out for 40 in the 17th over. With the score on 66. Craig Black joined Anderson at the crease and helped to move the score to 96 as he adjusted to the wicket, before Anderson departed in the 23rd over. Gordon Oliver made his way out to the middle, as the outfield had now started to dry out boundaries were more frequent. Oliver’s’ first four scoring shots being boundaries. Meanwhile Black was looking in good form as he past 50. Black and Oliver managed to put on a partnership of 92, before a pulled calf muscle resulted in Oliver’s dismissal for 41. Clackmannan were well placed with 188 on the board from 35 overs with 7 wickets in hand, looking to push on further. Tippu Sultan was sent in to entertain the spectators which he did with two boundaries and one massive six. Before being bowled for 15. Alan and Graham Oliver were unable to repeat the success of last week, as the innings had now reached the stage where batsmen didn’t have too much time to set themselves before trying to attack. Black by now had moved into the nineties as Keith Hefer joined him. Having been dismissed in the nineties on a few occasions his team-mates were hoping that this time he would succeed, and after moving to 95, a massive 6 over deep square leg brought him his first hundred for the first eleven. With the score on 252 from 45 overs, Black and Hefer continued to smash the ball to all parts of the ground. By the 50th over the innings had closed on 303 for 6 wickets, with Black unbeaten on 129 and Hefer on 19. After the tea break, Clackmannan set out to attack Largo, knowing that they needed to score at a run a ball if they were to win. Tipu Sultan and Rizwan Ashraf opened the bowling and beat the bat with frustrating regularity. The only wicket to fall in the first 10 overs went to Ashraf, as Graham Oliver took a good catch at Gully in the 4th over of the innings. It wasn’t until the 12th over that the second wicket fell as Ashraf bowled Nadeem Ali (8), followed by Sultan removing Tom Murdoch (15) in the very next over, with only 31 on the board. Black replaced Ashraf as Largo struggled for runs, taking until the 17th over to get to 33 when Sultan produced an edge from the batsmen, which Wicketkeeper Logan gladly accepted. Sultan had bowled straight through his 10 overs, picking up 2 wickets for only 19 runs, Hefer replaced him and struck in his second over, Anderson taking the catch at cover. By 25 overs Largo had only managed 43 runs with 5 wickets down. With some dark clouds looming, Clackmannan hurried through their overs to ensure that they reached the 30 overs needed for a result to stand. However by the 30th over Largo were 8 wickets down with only 54 on the board. Black took the 3 wickets during this spell, bowled, LBW and another catch for Logan. Geoff Logan was showing his class by keeping up to the stumps to Black, who many believe to be the quickest bowler in the league. Thankfully the dark clouds were replaced by sunshine, but with Largo needing to reach 75 for a batting point their tail enders weren’t about to give up easily. After battling it out until the 39th over and achieving their goal, Matthew Booth Claimed the penultimate wicket as sub fielder Calum Lyons held a skier at point. Kash Ali replaced Booth and struck with his 2nd ball with Graham Oliver taking another good catch. Largo all out for 93 giving Clackmannan victory by 210 runs. Black was the pick of the bowlers with 10 overs, 7 maidens, 3 wickets for only 4 runs all of which came behind square. A truly great team performance with everyone contributing. Hopefully the team can keep it up.