Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Scott Malcolmson

On Saturday Clackmannan welcomed Marchmont to the Arns hoping to put last week’s disappointing defeat behind them. Clackmannan won the toss for the fifth straight game and in the baking heat went against the groundsman’s advice and elected to field.
Neil Ramsay and Alistair Band opened the bowling, Band struck in the fourth over removing the opener through a fine catch off a bottom edge by Richard Passe, who was replacing Greig Taylor behind the stumps. Band struck again in the tenth over getting Mathers caught at backward point by Alamgir. Neil at the other end wasn’t having much luck with the ball just seemingly avoiding the fielders.
Alison Ramsay replaced Neil from the railway end and struck immediately getting Mungavin out lbw. At the other end Band was producing his best bowling spell for quite a while and was unlucky not to add to his tally of 2 wickets. Sultan replaced Band and struck in his third over bowling MacConnachie. This left Marchmont struggling on 60 for 4 after 21 overs.
Next up for Clackmannan was Mr. Dependable, Nick Bryant-Nichols who replaced A Ramsay. With his first ball which was a full toss the batsmen hit it straight into the safe hands of Neil Ramsay at mid off.
With the bowlers putting Clackmannan in a great position the focus now switched to the fielders. Great thinking by Band resulted in a run out. Viswananthan blocked a good ball by Bryant-Nichols, in the process he ever so slightly stepped out of his crease and like a hawk Band swooped on the ball and although his shy at the stumps missed Passe was on hand to collect the ball and whip the bails off.
Will Kay joined the attack and buoyed by his heroics of last week took a wicket in his 2nd over caught by Scott Malcolmson at extra cover. With the pressure on, Marchmont were taking chances, however all this achieved was a second run out. This time Dave Watkins teaming up with Passe. Auranzeb Alamgir then picked up his first wicket off the season bowling Fraser for 24.
N Ramsay replaced Bryant-Nichols and although he didn’t get a breakthrough his tight bowling were forcing the batsmen to take on the fielders. Not a wise move with Band and Passe teaming up again for a run out. Marchmont were all out 102.
After a brilliant tea Clackmannan began the run chase with Tippu Sultan and Richard Passe. Sultan played like a man possessed, hitting the bowlers to all parts. After twenty four balls the score had progressed to an unbelievable 45 for no wicket. Sultan was the main reason for this; he was taking the bowling apart with such viciousness that at one point the ball had to be retrieved from the ajoining field. Passe was playing a great part in this partnership, sticking to his own game, rotating the strike and seeing off the opening bowlers.
Sultan achieved his 50 in the 7th over off only 27 balls. Passe not to be outdone started slowly but gradually got into it. After only scoring 1 off 16 balls, he opened up hitting some nice boundaries all around the wicket. The game was won in the 16th over with Sultan not out 74 off 42 balls and Passe 21 not out off 49 balls.
This was a brilliant victory for Clackmannan who had bounced back from last week’s defeat with style. Best for Clackmannan with the ball were Band and Bryant-Nichols, in the field Kay and Band were sharp but the man of the match award has to go to Sultan for a magnificent display of hitting.
Special mention of David Henderson, who spends hours cutting and rolling the wicket to delivered yet another fantastic strip, which was a pleasure to play on.
Next Saturday for Clackmannan is a top of the table clash at last year’s rivals Corstorphine.

Match Report
Clackmannan County 2nd XI v Marchmont 2nd XI
Click here to view scorecard
Date 30/5/2009	Venue The Arns, Alloa	Result Win	Weather Sunny, hot
By Scott Malcolmson On Saturday Clackmannan welcomed Marchmont to the Arns hoping to put last week’s disappointing defeat behind them. Clackmannan won the toss for the fifth straight game and in the baking heat went against the groundsman’s advice and elected to field. Neil Ramsay and Alistair Band opened the bowling, Band struck in the fourth over removing the opener through a fine catch off a bottom edge by Richard Passe, who was replacing Greig Taylor behind the stumps. Band struck again in the tenth over getting Mathers caught at backward point by Alamgir. Neil at the other end wasn’t having much luck with the ball just seemingly avoiding the fielders. Alison Ramsay replaced Neil from the railway end and struck immediately getting Mungavin out lbw. At the other end Band was producing his best bowling spell for quite a while and was unlucky not to add to his tally of 2 wickets. Sultan replaced Band and struck in his third over bowling MacConnachie. This left Marchmont struggling on 60 for 4 after 21 overs. Next up for Clackmannan was Mr. Dependable, Nick Bryant-Nichols who replaced A Ramsay. With his first ball which was a full toss the batsmen hit it straight into the safe hands of Neil Ramsay at mid off. With the bowlers putting Clackmannan in a great position the focus now switched to the fielders. Great thinking by Band resulted in a run out. Viswananthan blocked a good ball by Bryant-Nichols, in the process he ever so slightly stepped out of his crease and like a hawk Band swooped on the ball and although his shy at the stumps missed Passe was on hand to collect the ball and whip the bails off. Will Kay joined the attack and buoyed by his heroics of last week took a wicket in his 2nd over caught by Scott Malcolmson at extra cover. With the pressure on, Marchmont were taking chances, however all this achieved was a second run out. This time Dave Watkins teaming up with Passe. Auranzeb Alamgir then picked up his first wicket off the season bowling Fraser for 24. N Ramsay replaced Bryant-Nichols and although he didn’t get a breakthrough his tight bowling were forcing the batsmen to take on the fielders. Not a wise move with Band and Passe teaming up again for a run out. Marchmont were all out 102. After a brilliant tea Clackmannan began the run chase with Tippu Sultan and Richard Passe. Sultan played like a man possessed, hitting the bowlers to all parts. After twenty four balls the score had progressed to an unbelievable 45 for no wicket. Sultan was the main reason for this; he was taking the bowling apart with such viciousness that at one point the ball had to be retrieved from the ajoining field. Passe was playing a great part in this partnership, sticking to his own game, rotating the strike and seeing off the opening bowlers. Sultan achieved his 50 in the 7th over off only 27 balls. Passe not to be outdone started slowly but gradually got into it. After only scoring 1 off 16 balls, he opened up hitting some nice boundaries all around the wicket. The game was won in the 16th over with Sultan not out 74 off 42 balls and Passe 21 not out off 49 balls. This was a brilliant victory for Clackmannan who had bounced back from last week’s defeat with style. Best for Clackmannan with the ball were Band and Bryant-Nichols, in the field Kay and Band were sharp but the man of the match award has to go to Sultan for a magnificent display of hitting. Special mention of David Henderson, who spends hours cutting and rolling the wicket to delivered yet another fantastic strip, which was a pleasure to play on. Next Saturday for Clackmannan is a top of the table clash at last year’s rivals Corstorphine.