Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Greig Taylor

On a gorgeously sunny Sunday, Clackmannan County 3rd XI travelled to Cupar to play the second game in their maiden Strathmore Union season. The home captain won the toss and decided that his team would bat, on the artificial surface. Jamie McCann and Elliot Milton, the 3rd XI new ball pairing, made good use of the new ball, moving it both ways. Cupar opening batsman, Stonebridge, showed his skill as he bludgeoned a few balls to the boundary. The left-hander looked comfortable as the short boundaries were as inviting as a piece of cake which your granny has just baked. McCann was generating a fair pace in an attempt to cut the run flow from Stonebridge’s bat. McCann bowled a ball that “kicked” off the surface and consequently made the batsman fend a short-pitched ball into his skull. This blow certainly shook the batsman and appeared to make him more determined to hit the ball further and harder than previously. As expected, the next ball was given a mighty thump and in doing so, the batsman cleared the wall that surrounds the ground. At this time, it could have been easy for the Clackmannan heads to go down. However Milton, took a wicket of Stonebridge in the eighth over with the score on 43, caught by Charlie McNish at mid on. This over was to be the turning point of the game as Milton took 3 wicket in the over, to reduced Cupar to 43 for 4. Milton got his second scalp by bowling Bedford for nought after only his second ball. The last ball of the over nipped back into the batsman, for him to edge the ball, which was gladly accepted by wicket-keeper Greig Taylor. After good spells from both bowlers, captain Alan Oliver decided to change things around and brought on Auranzeb Alamgir and Craig Black. Alamgir produced the next wicket, as Cupar captain, Trayner, edged another ball, which was destined for the boundary, only for the keeper to pluck it out of the sky and hold onto a good catch. At this stage, Cupar were 44 – 5 and looked in desperate need of a partnership to steady the innings. This partnership was provided by McAuley and Anderson who batted sensibly to move the score along to 82 until Anderson (21) was bowled by a beautiful ball by Black. The familiar say of “... one brings two...” seemed to work for Clackmannan as McAuley tried to hit over the top but only succeeded in giving Alamgir an easy catch. At this stage, Cupar were 83 – 7 and they looked to be struggling. Alan Oliver brought himself onto bowl and made an immediate impact on the game. Luring Mair down the wicket, the quick work of Taylor behind the stumps ensured that the only walking the batsman would be doing would be back to the changing room. The Cupar youngsters at the end hung around to ensure the home-side score would surpass the 100 mark which it did in the 26th over. Another junior bowler, Charlie McNish had bowled a consistent line and length in his four overs and was rewarded with the final 2 wickets. All in all, a clinical yet ruthless bowling display by Clackmannan proved too much for the Cupar batting line-up as they finished on 106 all out.As Clacks sat down at the table for teas, they knew that this game was winnable, and a run-rate of only 2.5 an over shouldn’t prove to be that hard on a ground that boasted such shorts boundaries around the wicket.Graham Oliver and Craig Black opened the batting for the county side and set the tone for the chase as first ball, Oliver dropped it into the offside and the two completed a quick single. With a small total to defend, Cupar didn’t help themselves by bowling so many extras and thus allowing the Clackmannan pair to get a feel for the wicket. Oliver (8) was the first wicket to go as he chipped the ball in the air and an easy catch was taken at mid-on. Charlie McNish came in to replace Oliver and the partnership that was to win the game for Clackmannan blossomed before the spectators eyes. After some almighty blows by Black, he reached his fifty with a classy push through midwicket for two. In the seventeenth over with the score on 85 for 1, McNish’s innings came to an end as he unfortunately hit the ball in the air and was caught. Although the batsman only scored 6 runs, his support for Black was key to Clackmannans success. With only 22 runs to win, Black and his new partner Auranzeb Alamgir saw the side home, in quick fashion, with 21 overs and 8 wickets to spare.The bowlers paved the way for the win as they bowled Cupar out cheaply, but the solid batting display by Black (ably supported by the other batsmen) was the icing on the cake. An excellent all round performance ensured that the captain was smiling as his team had now won their first two games. This Sunday the 3rd XI welcome Meigle to the Arns, in what should be an interesting encounter.

Match Report
Cupar 2nd XI v Clackmannan County 3rd XI
Click here to view scorecard
Date 27/4/2008	Venue Duffas Park	Result Win	Weather Sunny
By Greig Taylor On a gorgeously sunny Sunday, Clackmannan County 3rd XI travelled to Cupar to play the second game in their maiden Strathmore Union season. The home captain won the toss and decided that his team would bat, on the artificial surface. Jamie McCann and Elliot Milton, the 3rd XI new ball pairing, made good use of the new ball, moving it both ways. Cupar opening batsman, Stonebridge, showed his skill as he bludgeoned a few balls to the boundary. The left-hander looked comfortable as the short boundaries were as inviting as a piece of cake which your granny has just baked. McCann was generating a fair pace in an attempt to cut the run flow from Stonebridge’s bat. McCann bowled a ball that “kicked” off the surface and consequently made the batsman fend a short-pitched ball into his skull. This blow certainly shook the batsman and appeared to make him more determined to hit the ball further and harder than previously. As expected, the next ball was given a mighty thump and in doing so, the batsman cleared the wall that surrounds the ground. At this time, it could have been easy for the Clackmannan heads to go down. However Milton, took a wicket of Stonebridge in the eighth over with the score on 43, caught by Charlie McNish at mid on. This over was to be the turning point of the game as Milton took 3 wicket in the over, to reduced Cupar to 43 for 4. Milton got his second scalp by bowling Bedford for nought after only his second ball. The last ball of the over nipped back into the batsman, for him to edge the ball, which was gladly accepted by wicket-keeper Greig Taylor. After good spells from both bowlers, captain Alan Oliver decided to change things around and brought on Auranzeb Alamgir and Craig Black. Alamgir produced the next wicket, as Cupar captain, Trayner, edged another ball, which was destined for the boundary, only for the keeper to pluck it out of the sky and hold onto a good catch. At this stage, Cupar were 44 – 5 and looked in desperate need of a partnership to steady the innings. This partnership was provided by McAuley and Anderson who batted sensibly to move the score along to 82 until Anderson (21) was bowled by a beautiful ball by Black. The familiar say of “... one brings two...” seemed to work for Clackmannan as McAuley tried to hit over the top but only succeeded in giving Alamgir an easy catch. At this stage, Cupar were 83 – 7 and they looked to be struggling. Alan Oliver brought himself onto bowl and made an immediate impact on the game. Luring Mair down the wicket, the quick work of Taylor behind the stumps ensured that the only walking the batsman would be doing would be back to the changing room. The Cupar youngsters at the end hung around to ensure the home-side score would surpass the 100 mark which it did in the 26th over. Another junior bowler, Charlie McNish had bowled a consistent line and length in his four overs and was rewarded with the final 2 wickets. All in all, a clinical yet ruthless bowling display by Clackmannan proved too much for the Cupar batting line-up as they finished on 106 all out.As Clacks sat down at the table for teas, they knew that this game was winnable, and a run-rate of only 2.5 an over shouldn’t prove to be that hard on a ground that boasted such shorts boundaries around the wicket.Graham Oliver and Craig Black opened the batting for the county side and set the tone for the chase as first ball, Oliver dropped it into the offside and the two completed a quick single. With a small total to defend, Cupar didn’t help themselves by bowling so many extras and thus allowing the Clackmannan pair to get a feel for the wicket. Oliver (8) was the first wicket to go as he chipped the ball in the air and an easy catch was taken at mid-on. Charlie McNish came in to replace Oliver and the partnership that was to win the game for Clackmannan blossomed before the spectators eyes. After some almighty blows by Black, he reached his fifty with a classy push through midwicket for two. In the seventeenth over with the score on 85 for 1, McNish’s innings came to an end as he unfortunately hit the ball in the air and was caught. Although the batsman only scored 6 runs, his support for Black was key to Clackmannans success. With only 22 runs to win, Black and his new partner Auranzeb Alamgir saw the side home, in quick fashion, with 21 overs and 8 wickets to spare.The bowlers paved the way for the win as they bowled Cupar out cheaply, but the solid batting display by Black (ably supported by the other batsmen) was the icing on the cake. An excellent all round performance ensured that the captain was smiling as his team had now won their first two games. This Sunday the 3rd XI welcome Meigle to the Arns, in what should be an interesting encounter.