Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By David Watkins

As the Clackmannan 2’s, on a 7-game winning streak, gathered at the Arns for the journey to Edinburgh there was little hope amongst the team of getting any play but when 1:30 came the rain was still holding off as Malcolmson’s table-topping charges were sent in to bat by the SMRH 3’s on an artificial wicket. It became clear quickly that the outfield was so slow it could halt a 747 and that runs would come at a premium.
Clark, pacey but erratic, ripped one through the defences of Graeme Anderson with the score at 17 and then Neil Ramsay was bowled by a shooter that he tried to pull. Richard Passe then feathered a drive through to the keeper to leave Clackmannan on 40/3.
Dave Watkins and Auranzeb Alamgir, after a century partnership the previous week, were at the wicket again, and it briefly looked as though they were set for a repeat performance as the latter took Jones to the cleaners, top edging a beamer for six and then smashing him into the building site over the square boundary. In between these shots ’Big Boom’ had blocked one with a watertight forward defence (straight batted!) and had flicked one effortlessly off his legs for four. Jones, however, was to have the last laugh as Alamgir swung for the fences again, missed and lost his leg stump. The relieved Jones gave him a send off that brought a mild ticking off from Anderson of Dock Green umpiring at square-leg.
Watkins was then joined by Ken Hutchison but he drove a full-toss to cover to depart without scoring. Hutchison’s day would get much, much better….
With Clackmannan teetering on 75/5, Watkins and Scott Malcolmson set about the task of accumulating runs with the captain picking gaps on the offside with regularity. SMRH had put a fielder on the boundary at point to neuter the Watkins cut shot so he had to take more risks off the front foot. One booming drive past the bowler for four stunned the Clackmannan number 4 so much that he failed to score off the following 20 deliveries.
After the drinks break, the rain got a little heavier but the pair pushed on gamely until Watkins again fell in Ian Bell territory, slapping a lazy drive off the toe to short cover for 34.
Greig Taylor was run out for the second consecutive week for 5 leaving Clackmannan on 131/7 and still some way short of a par score. Jamie McCann was next in and he applied himself well, blocking the good balls, running the quick singles and smashing one over mid-on for four. When McCann was bowled for 8 Ali Band joined the skipper and he announced himself with a stunning back foot drive over cover for six. Malcolmson fell for a valiant 38 and the final pair of Band and Alison Ramsay scampered for every run they could find to get Clackmannan up to 176/9.
When play resumed the weather was considerably better with the sun making its first appearance. Neil Ramsay and Jamie McCann hit their stride from the get-go and soon had the home side in dire trouble. McCann struck in his first over, one of the finest you will ever see for the club. Keeping an impeccable length (just short of full) and a tight line he was virtually unplayable and he got his reward when the desperate Jones went for a pull and skied to Anderson at cover.
Neil Ramsay was getting prodigious movement from the other end and he struck twice in two overs hitting the stumps of Bartsch and Stalley to leave the home side in tatters at 13/3.
Napier, who battled well to survive the new ball spell, and Gray began to steady the ship but the latter fell to the pull shot that Hutchison snaffled at midwicket. Keith joined Napier at the wicket and he struck some fine boundaries before he too skied one high over the wicket. Eager to avoid the comedy capers of a similar situation last week, Greig Taylor pierced the sound barrier with his call and he made the ground to take the catch.
Clark was next in and he and Napier began to gather runs at the required rate and got their side firmly in contention. The pair had put on 50 when Alamgir’s slower ball deceived Clark and he skied one to square leg. Hutchison stormed round from midwicket and took a stunning low catch that brought jubilant celebrations.
The next batsman Marrs dug in hard and he and Napier had brought their side to within 40 runs of victory when Neil Ramsay rejoined the attack. Sibling Number Two clattered the stumps to leave SMRH on 137/7.
Alison Ramsay returned from the Ferry Road end and Vakil blasted a half-volley straight into the safe hands of Graeme Anderson at long-off. Neil then returned to demolish Ross’ stumps and finish SMRH off, 35 runs short of victory.
This was another battling victory for Clackmannan in a game in which they produced nowhere near their best form. As so often, they dug themselves out of trouble to put themselves in a winning position.
Ten minutes after the finish, Edinburgh was hit with some of the most torrential rain I’ve ever seen in Britain and as the drivers crawled through the murk towards the M9, victory tasted all the sweeter.

Match Report
Clackmannan County 2nd XI v SMRH 3
Click here to view scorecard
Date 18/7/2009	Venue Edinburgh	Result Win	Weather yes
By David Watkins As the Clackmannan 2’s, on a 7-game winning streak, gathered at the Arns for the journey to Edinburgh there was little hope amongst the team of getting any play but when 1:30 came the rain was still holding off as Malcolmson’s table-topping charges were sent in to bat by the SMRH 3’s on an artificial wicket. It became clear quickly that the outfield was so slow it could halt a 747 and that runs would come at a premium. Clark, pacey but erratic, ripped one through the defences of Graeme Anderson with the score at 17 and then Neil Ramsay was bowled by a shooter that he tried to pull. Richard Passe then feathered a drive through to the keeper to leave Clackmannan on 40/3. Dave Watkins and Auranzeb Alamgir, after a century partnership the previous week, were at the wicket again, and it briefly looked as though they were set for a repeat performance as the latter took Jones to the cleaners, top edging a beamer for six and then smashing him into the building site over the square boundary. In between these shots ’Big Boom’ had blocked one with a watertight forward defence (straight batted!) and had flicked one effortlessly off his legs for four. Jones, however, was to have the last laugh as Alamgir swung for the fences again, missed and lost his leg stump. The relieved Jones gave him a send off that brought a mild ticking off from Anderson of Dock Green umpiring at square-leg. Watkins was then joined by Ken Hutchison but he drove a full-toss to cover to depart without scoring. Hutchison’s day would get much, much better…. With Clackmannan teetering on 75/5, Watkins and Scott Malcolmson set about the task of accumulating runs with the captain picking gaps on the offside with regularity. SMRH had put a fielder on the boundary at point to neuter the Watkins cut shot so he had to take more risks off the front foot. One booming drive past the bowler for four stunned the Clackmannan number 4 so much that he failed to score off the following 20 deliveries. After the drinks break, the rain got a little heavier but the pair pushed on gamely until Watkins again fell in Ian Bell territory, slapping a lazy drive off the toe to short cover for 34. Greig Taylor was run out for the second consecutive week for 5 leaving Clackmannan on 131/7 and still some way short of a par score. Jamie McCann was next in and he applied himself well, blocking the good balls, running the quick singles and smashing one over mid-on for four. When McCann was bowled for 8 Ali Band joined the skipper and he announced himself with a stunning back foot drive over cover for six. Malcolmson fell for a valiant 38 and the final pair of Band and Alison Ramsay scampered for every run they could find to get Clackmannan up to 176/9. When play resumed the weather was considerably better with the sun making its first appearance. Neil Ramsay and Jamie McCann hit their stride from the get-go and soon had the home side in dire trouble. McCann struck in his first over, one of the finest you will ever see for the club. Keeping an impeccable length (just short of full) and a tight line he was virtually unplayable and he got his reward when the desperate Jones went for a pull and skied to Anderson at cover. Neil Ramsay was getting prodigious movement from the other end and he struck twice in two overs hitting the stumps of Bartsch and Stalley to leave the home side in tatters at 13/3. Napier, who battled well to survive the new ball spell, and Gray began to steady the ship but the latter fell to the pull shot that Hutchison snaffled at midwicket. Keith joined Napier at the wicket and he struck some fine boundaries before he too skied one high over the wicket. Eager to avoid the comedy capers of a similar situation last week, Greig Taylor pierced the sound barrier with his call and he made the ground to take the catch. Clark was next in and he and Napier began to gather runs at the required rate and got their side firmly in contention. The pair had put on 50 when Alamgir’s slower ball deceived Clark and he skied one to square leg. Hutchison stormed round from midwicket and took a stunning low catch that brought jubilant celebrations. The next batsman Marrs dug in hard and he and Napier had brought their side to within 40 runs of victory when Neil Ramsay rejoined the attack. Sibling Number Two clattered the stumps to leave SMRH on 137/7. Alison Ramsay returned from the Ferry Road end and Vakil blasted a half-volley straight into the safe hands of Graeme Anderson at long-off. Neil then returned to demolish Ross’ stumps and finish SMRH off, 35 runs short of victory. This was another battling victory for Clackmannan in a game in which they produced nowhere near their best form. As so often, they dug themselves out of trouble to put themselves in a winning position. Ten minutes after the finish, Edinburgh was hit with some of the most torrential rain I’ve ever seen in Britain and as the drivers crawled through the murk towards the M9, victory tasted all the sweeter.