Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Steve Jelfs

Under beautiful blue skies and with superb conditions for cricket, Clackmannan County Cricket Club third team kicked off their season with a solid win in a friendly match, against neighbouring Gargunnock, at the Arns (writes Steve Jelfs).Despite losing the toss, and with Gargunnock choosing to bat first, the County produced some tight fielding, great bowling and superb batting to defeat the visitors by eight wickets.

Gargunnock’s opening pair started to dig themselves in, however they were restricted to single and double runs by Clackmannans opening bowlers, before Keith Heffer delivered a delightful ball taking their opening batsman’s off stump out of the ground. Jamie McCann also opened well and after bowling consistently all afternoon returned some impressive figures of 3-32. Jamie also took the ‘catch of the day’ stooping low at mid-wicket to catch a speeding ball from the bat of Gargunnock’s high scoring number two batsman. Once the two openers went, after a partnership of 38 runs, wickets fell steadily and Gargunnock were bowled out for 115 runs from their innings of 40 overs. Captain Tipu Sultan also bowled consistently and was rewarded with figures of 2-5 with Kash Ali close behind him taking 2-14.

On a good batting wicket, the Thirds started well with opening pair Keith Heffer and Graham Oliver putting on an impressive partnership of 66, with Heffer scoring his maiden fifty for the club. An impressive innings of 51, (including two sixes), closed as he was caught trying to loop a drive over Point. Drive over point!! Graham Oliver continued to put runs on the board but was finally out for 17 when he was caught and bowled. Captain Tipu Sultan (23 n.o) and Alan Oliver (14 n.o) continued to pile on the runs for Clackmannan and victory was assured with only eighteen overs bowled. The winning runs were scored by Sultan hitting a marvelous six shot across the deep square leg boundary.

This was an impressive victory by the threes and bodes well for the coming season which begins next weekend with a trip away to St Modans for the first S&PCU league game.

Match Report
Clackmannan County 3rd XI v Gargunnock
Click here to view scorecard
Date 19/4/2009	Venue The Arns	Result Win	Weather Sunny, warm
By Steve Jelfs Under beautiful blue skies and with superb conditions for cricket, Clackmannan County Cricket Club third team kicked off their season with a solid win in a friendly match, against neighbouring Gargunnock, at the Arns (writes Steve Jelfs).Despite losing the toss, and with Gargunnock choosing to bat first, the County produced some tight fielding, great bowling and superb batting to defeat the visitors by eight wickets. Gargunnock’s opening pair started to dig themselves in, however they were restricted to single and double runs by Clackmannans opening bowlers, before Keith Heffer delivered a delightful ball taking their opening batsman’s off stump out of the ground. Jamie McCann also opened well and after bowling consistently all afternoon returned some impressive figures of 3-32. Jamie also took the ‘catch of the day’ stooping low at mid-wicket to catch a speeding ball from the bat of Gargunnock’s high scoring number two batsman. Once the two openers went, after a partnership of 38 runs, wickets fell steadily and Gargunnock were bowled out for 115 runs from their innings of 40 overs. Captain Tipu Sultan also bowled consistently and was rewarded with figures of 2-5 with Kash Ali close behind him taking 2-14. On a good batting wicket, the Thirds started well with opening pair Keith Heffer and Graham Oliver putting on an impressive partnership of 66, with Heffer scoring his maiden fifty for the club. An impressive innings of 51, (including two sixes), closed as he was caught trying to loop a drive over Point. Drive over point!! Graham Oliver continued to put runs on the board but was finally out for 17 when he was caught and bowled. Captain Tipu Sultan (23 n.o) and Alan Oliver (14 n.o) continued to pile on the runs for Clackmannan and victory was assured with only eighteen overs bowled. The winning runs were scored by Sultan hitting a marvelous six shot across the deep square leg boundary. This was an impressive victory by the threes and bodes well for the coming season which begins next weekend with a trip away to St Modans for the first S&PCU league game.