Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Scott Malcolmson

Clackmannan travelled through the rain on Saturday to Edinburgh to face RHC 3 in a top of the table clash. Fortunately it wasn’t raining in Edinburgh, Malcolmson won the toss for the 4th straight league game and elected to field.
Matthew Booth and Neil Ramsay opened the bowling but all didn’t go to plan for Clackmannan as some poor bowling allowed RHC openers Kay and Adamson get off to a good start as they punished some short bowling. With the pitch offering indifferent bounce Jhangir behind the stumps had to be on his toes as byes were going to be crucial.
With the first ball of Ramsay’s 5th over Kay hit the ball straight to Blair Campbell at mid off and started off for a single, but was run out due to a good throw from Campbell to keeper Noor Jhangir. Campbell replaced Ramsay at one end while Ramsay swapped ends (replacing Booth). This move worked a treat as Ramsay picked uip his first wicket bowling Kay for 10.
The score after 15 overs was 47 for 2. Alison Ramsay replaced her brother but wasn’t her usual effective self and was replaced by Bryant-Nichols. Campbell struck in the 17th over bowling the dangerous West who had advanced to 29 quickly. Alistair Band replaced Campbell, after his 5 over spell, but struggled bowling up the hill but after two ineffective overs was replaced by Richard Passe.
Passe and Nick Bryant-Nichols then bowled in tandem, with the next twelve overs going for 15 runs, both bowlers picking up a wicket. Bryant-Nichols had Cork caught at mid off by Alison Ramsay and Passe bowling Ward. With RHC only having 9 players Clackmannan only needed 2 more wickets. Step forward Matthew Booth who replaced Passe and got 2 wickets from 2 balls getting A Sadler caught by Band and next ball bowling S Sadler.
RHC were all out 143, Clackmannan were disapointed with this total as their bowling and fielding didn’t achieve the standards that have been set this season. After teas and a rain break Clackmannan began the run chase with Campbell and Passe.
Chapman’s first ball was just outside Campbell’s off stump which Campbell played at. This was followed by a chat that "he obviously didn’t get enough lunch as he’s nibbling away already".
Campbell was dropped early, but failed to make RHC pay, as he was out caught at squre leg for 8 off the bowling of Chapman. The good news for Clackmannan was that by the time he was out the score had moved to 23 after 4 overs. Neil Ramsay joined Passe at the crease and both batsmen played some magnificent shots, most notably Ramsay with his trademark flick off his leg through mid wicket for 4. Passe not to be out done was doing a terrific job of rotating the strike and dispatching any bad balls that came his way.
After a second rain break Ramsay and Passe continued the great start Clackmannan had made and by the 11th over the score was 60 for 1. With the last ball of the 12th over Passe and Ramsay went for a suicidal second run after Ramsay had flicked the ball behind square. This led to Ramsay being run out for 32, this was disappointing for the team as he looked well set for a big score.
Smith joined the party and wasn’t hanging about as he dispatched the bowling to all parts, Passe was rotating the strike well before running himself out for an excellent 30. Jhangir joined Smith. Smith with the score on 26 hit a shot which looked a 6 all the way except nobody told Meier who dived and took a superb catch on the boundary. Alison Ramsay joined Jhangir, at this point Clackmannan only needed 32 runs needed to win with 28 overs remaining. Jhangir was next out caught and bowled by Meier for a quick 20 runs which included the only 6 of the game.
When Malcolmson joined Ramsay only 4 runs were needed for victory. This didn’t take long. After Malcolmson stole the strike with the last ball of the 22nd over and with the scores tied he scored the winning run the next ball.
As games go a win is a win. Clackmannan should great resolute to win this one after they had a poor start to the game. They chased down a big target on a dodgy wicket. Credit must go to RHC for their effort with 9 players who must think if only we had a full team. Their youngsters played well and the future looks bright for RHC.
Top performances for Clackmannan came from Jhangir who kept well in difficult conditions and from Passe and Bryant-Nichols with the ball. Most batsmen performed well but man of the match goes to Passe who bowled well and kept Clackmannan going with the bat when wickets were falling at the other end.
Next for Clackmannan is a home game against West Lothian 3.

Match Report
Clackmannan County 2nd XI V Corstorphine 3rd XI
Click here to view scorecard
Date 6/6/2009	Venue Bangholm, Leith	Result Win	Weather showery
By Scott Malcolmson Clackmannan travelled through the rain on Saturday to Edinburgh to face RHC 3 in a top of the table clash. Fortunately it wasn’t raining in Edinburgh, Malcolmson won the toss for the 4th straight league game and elected to field. Matthew Booth and Neil Ramsay opened the bowling but all didn’t go to plan for Clackmannan as some poor bowling allowed RHC openers Kay and Adamson get off to a good start as they punished some short bowling. With the pitch offering indifferent bounce Jhangir behind the stumps had to be on his toes as byes were going to be crucial. With the first ball of Ramsay’s 5th over Kay hit the ball straight to Blair Campbell at mid off and started off for a single, but was run out due to a good throw from Campbell to keeper Noor Jhangir. Campbell replaced Ramsay at one end while Ramsay swapped ends (replacing Booth). This move worked a treat as Ramsay picked uip his first wicket bowling Kay for 10. The score after 15 overs was 47 for 2. Alison Ramsay replaced her brother but wasn’t her usual effective self and was replaced by Bryant-Nichols. Campbell struck in the 17th over bowling the dangerous West who had advanced to 29 quickly. Alistair Band replaced Campbell, after his 5 over spell, but struggled bowling up the hill but after two ineffective overs was replaced by Richard Passe. Passe and Nick Bryant-Nichols then bowled in tandem, with the next twelve overs going for 15 runs, both bowlers picking up a wicket. Bryant-Nichols had Cork caught at mid off by Alison Ramsay and Passe bowling Ward. With RHC only having 9 players Clackmannan only needed 2 more wickets. Step forward Matthew Booth who replaced Passe and got 2 wickets from 2 balls getting A Sadler caught by Band and next ball bowling S Sadler. RHC were all out 143, Clackmannan were disapointed with this total as their bowling and fielding didn’t achieve the standards that have been set this season. After teas and a rain break Clackmannan began the run chase with Campbell and Passe. Chapman’s first ball was just outside Campbell’s off stump which Campbell played at. This was followed by a chat that "he obviously didn’t get enough lunch as he’s nibbling away already". Campbell was dropped early, but failed to make RHC pay, as he was out caught at squre leg for 8 off the bowling of Chapman. The good news for Clackmannan was that by the time he was out the score had moved to 23 after 4 overs. Neil Ramsay joined Passe at the crease and both batsmen played some magnificent shots, most notably Ramsay with his trademark flick off his leg through mid wicket for 4. Passe not to be out done was doing a terrific job of rotating the strike and dispatching any bad balls that came his way. After a second rain break Ramsay and Passe continued the great start Clackmannan had made and by the 11th over the score was 60 for 1. With the last ball of the 12th over Passe and Ramsay went for a suicidal second run after Ramsay had flicked the ball behind square. This led to Ramsay being run out for 32, this was disappointing for the team as he looked well set for a big score. Smith joined the party and wasn’t hanging about as he dispatched the bowling to all parts, Passe was rotating the strike well before running himself out for an excellent 30. Jhangir joined Smith. Smith with the score on 26 hit a shot which looked a 6 all the way except nobody told Meier who dived and took a superb catch on the boundary. Alison Ramsay joined Jhangir, at this point Clackmannan only needed 32 runs needed to win with 28 overs remaining. Jhangir was next out caught and bowled by Meier for a quick 20 runs which included the only 6 of the game. When Malcolmson joined Ramsay only 4 runs were needed for victory. This didn’t take long. After Malcolmson stole the strike with the last ball of the 22nd over and with the scores tied he scored the winning run the next ball. As games go a win is a win. Clackmannan should great resolute to win this one after they had a poor start to the game. They chased down a big target on a dodgy wicket. Credit must go to RHC for their effort with 9 players who must think if only we had a full team. Their youngsters played well and the future looks bright for RHC. Top performances for Clackmannan came from Jhangir who kept well in difficult conditions and from Passe and Bryant-Nichols with the ball. Most batsmen performed well but man of the match goes to Passe who bowled well and kept Clackmannan going with the bat when wickets were falling at the other end. Next for Clackmannan is a home game against West Lothian 3.