Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Greig Taylor

On what turned out to be yet another fantastic day, Clackmannan County 3rd XI beat Falkland in a very close and well fought game.
Clackmannan skipper, Alan Oliver, won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat on what looked a good batting track. The familiar opening partnership of Graeme Oliver and Craig Black made their way to the crease and soon found their feet, defending the good ball and dispatching the bad ball. The positive intent that both batsmen showed was acknowledged by the rest of the team as the two brought up the 50 partnership in the 7th over. However, the misery for Falkland didn’t stop their as Black continued to find the boundary with ease. In the 11th over, Black brought up yet another half-century with a ferocious front-foot pull shot that rocketed to the boundary. Meanwhile, Oliver was playing with a little more patience and continued to rotate the strike. Last ball of the 15th over saw the downfall of Black (62) as he tried to pull a ball that died and snuck?? underneath his bat. A fantastic opening partnership of 119 set up the platform for a big score. This wicket brought Taylor to the crease and after scoring his maiden fifty for the club the previous day, he looked to continue playing in the same fashion. (who wrote this again?) The new pair took the team to 136 before Taylor played a pull shot too early and as a result was caught at mid-wicket for 6. Alamgir came to the crease and the two youngsters took the total passed the 150 mark before Alamgir was out LBW for 11. As Alan Oliver walked to the crease, his younger brother was nearing his fifty and with the first ball of the next over, he surpassed this milestone with a beautiful straight drive over the bowlers head. Alan (5), however, found it tough going as the opening bowlers were back on and they had seemed to be bowling a much better line. A checked cover drive resulted in the ball ballooning to the cover fielder who took a simple catch. At the 34 over, Graham Oliver got a ball that kicked off the surface and took him by surprise, which resulted in a top edge. Oliver was caught and was out for a well constructed 67. A congratulation (just the one?) to Graham as this was his first senior half-century for the club. With the score on 188, some good running and boundaries were required by Clackmannan if they were to do the opening platform any justice. Kash Ali and Kevin King were the men for the job, as these two put on a 40 run partnership, with Ali hitting the ball as cleanly as he has done in a long time. Ali was run out for 25 after a direct hit. Kevin King and club debutant, Steve Jelfs ended the innings the not out batsmen, 13 and 1 respectively. After 40 overs, Clackmannan ended on 221 for 6.
Falkland opened their innings in the same fashion as Clackmannan had done, scoring 99 off 15 overs. The Falkland pair liked pace on the ball, punishing any loose delivery, and it wasn’t until a change in pace and a bit of good fortune, that the Clackmannan side found a wicket. After bowling a “flighty” delivery, the batsman played the ball which bounced backwards and just did enough to dislodge the bails. Oliver struck again in his third over having the other opener, who also was the Falkland skipper, out LBW for 24. Clackmannan skipper decided it was time to have spin at both ends. He brought on the star of the batting display, Graham Oliver and instantly Oliver found some turn and bounce out of the pitch. By this stage, the run rate steadied to the required rate and it looked like it was going to be a tight finish. Number 3 batsman for Falkland, Sinwardena (33), looked like the man to guide Falkland to a victory until Graham Oliver had him LBW. Meanwhile, at the other end, Alan Oliver bowled yet another batsman to finish with figures of 3 – 23. The 33rd over turned out to be the pivotal over in the match as “Mr. Invincible” (Graham Oliver) it seemed, bowled a ball that drifted into the batsman. The ball was bludgeoned in the air to cow corner and right down Kash Ali’s throat. A fantastic catch by Ali as the ball was directly in line with the setting sun. Next ball, Oliver bowled a ‘beaut’ of a ball that had the * left-handed batsman out LBW. On the hat-trick ball, the batsman prodded the ball in the air which agonisingly fell short of the close fielder. After this over, the Falkland side didn’t have the firepower required to hit boundaries * they came up short of the required total. A victory by 16 runs ensured Clackmannan County maintained their 100% record and their position at top of the table.
* Greig!!!!! 1st public warning!!!!!!!

Match Report
Falkland XI v Clackmannan County 3rd XI
Click here to view scorecard
Date 8/6/2008	Venue Scroggie Park	Result Win for CCCC	Weather Dry, warm
By Greig Taylor On what turned out to be yet another fantastic day, Clackmannan County 3rd XI beat Falkland in a very close and well fought game. Clackmannan skipper, Alan Oliver, won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat on what looked a good batting track. The familiar opening partnership of Graeme Oliver and Craig Black made their way to the crease and soon found their feet, defending the good ball and dispatching the bad ball. The positive intent that both batsmen showed was acknowledged by the rest of the team as the two brought up the 50 partnership in the 7th over. However, the misery for Falkland didn’t stop their as Black continued to find the boundary with ease. In the 11th over, Black brought up yet another half-century with a ferocious front-foot pull shot that rocketed to the boundary. Meanwhile, Oliver was playing with a little more patience and continued to rotate the strike. Last ball of the 15th over saw the downfall of Black (62) as he tried to pull a ball that died and snuck?? underneath his bat. A fantastic opening partnership of 119 set up the platform for a big score. This wicket brought Taylor to the crease and after scoring his maiden fifty for the club the previous day, he looked to continue playing in the same fashion. (who wrote this again?) The new pair took the team to 136 before Taylor played a pull shot too early and as a result was caught at mid-wicket for 6. Alamgir came to the crease and the two youngsters took the total passed the 150 mark before Alamgir was out LBW for 11. As Alan Oliver walked to the crease, his younger brother was nearing his fifty and with the first ball of the next over, he surpassed this milestone with a beautiful straight drive over the bowlers head. Alan (5), however, found it tough going as the opening bowlers were back on and they had seemed to be bowling a much better line. A checked cover drive resulted in the ball ballooning to the cover fielder who took a simple catch. At the 34 over, Graham Oliver got a ball that kicked off the surface and took him by surprise, which resulted in a top edge. Oliver was caught and was out for a well constructed 67. A congratulation (just the one?) to Graham as this was his first senior half-century for the club. With the score on 188, some good running and boundaries were required by Clackmannan if they were to do the opening platform any justice. Kash Ali and Kevin King were the men for the job, as these two put on a 40 run partnership, with Ali hitting the ball as cleanly as he has done in a long time. Ali was run out for 25 after a direct hit. Kevin King and club debutant, Steve Jelfs ended the innings the not out batsmen, 13 and 1 respectively. After 40 overs, Clackmannan ended on 221 for 6. Falkland opened their innings in the same fashion as Clackmannan had done, scoring 99 off 15 overs. The Falkland pair liked pace on the ball, punishing any loose delivery, and it wasn’t until a change in pace and a bit of good fortune, that the Clackmannan side found a wicket. After bowling a “flighty” delivery, the batsman played the ball which bounced backwards and just did enough to dislodge the bails. Oliver struck again in his third over having the other opener, who also was the Falkland skipper, out LBW for 24. Clackmannan skipper decided it was time to have spin at both ends. He brought on the star of the batting display, Graham Oliver and instantly Oliver found some turn and bounce out of the pitch. By this stage, the run rate steadied to the required rate and it looked like it was going to be a tight finish. Number 3 batsman for Falkland, Sinwardena (33), looked like the man to guide Falkland to a victory until Graham Oliver had him LBW. Meanwhile, at the other end, Alan Oliver bowled yet another batsman to finish with figures of 3 – 23. The 33rd over turned out to be the pivotal over in the match as “Mr. Invincible” (Graham Oliver) it seemed, bowled a ball that drifted into the batsman. The ball was bludgeoned in the air to cow corner and right down Kash Ali’s throat. A fantastic catch by Ali as the ball was directly in line with the setting sun. Next ball, Oliver bowled a ‘beaut’ of a ball that had the * left-handed batsman out LBW. On the hat-trick ball, the batsman prodded the ball in the air which agonisingly fell short of the close fielder. After this over, the Falkland side didn’t have the firepower required to hit boundaries * they came up short of the required total. A victory by 16 runs ensured Clackmannan County maintained their 100% record and their position at top of the table. * Greig!!!!! 1st public warning!!!!!!!