By Craig Black

One down, one to go!
The table topping Clackmannan County made the hour long trip through to Fettes College in Edinburgh to take on Grange III’s knowing that the season was from over, and that winning Division 3 for 2010 by securing victory in their last 2 league games was just as important as securing promotion. The wind was howling, the weather forecast looked dubious and the wicket was green, yet on winning the toss, skipper Craig Black decided to bat first, much to the disagreement of the team.
With Black reassuring his compadre’s, Graham Oliver (6) & Jhangir (2) walked out to take on the Stag’s opening line up. In no time at all both openers were back in the hut, Paterson clean bowling Jhangir and S.Young having Oliver caught behind. Black & Graeme Anderson took the helm and immediately settled down to see off the accurate opening pair, putting a 50 run partnership together as they took the score to 77 after 17overs. Anderson was the next to depart, falling LBW to L. Young for 14, a rip-snorting delivery that almost bounced twice and would’ve had most blind cricketers in trouble. Davie Watkins (0) replaced him, fresh from 2nd X1 controversy, and he was to last 4 balls before L. Young produced a peach that turned square and bowled him without offering a shot. 77 for 4 and the skippers decision to bat was starting to look questionable! Keith Hefer came out to bat and set about his usual dismantling approach to the attack. He moved to 14 before being bowled through the gate by another classic off spinner’s delivery by L. Young with the score on 116-5. Having passed his 50, Black was in desperate need of a partner and in the new batsmen Gordon Oliver he found it, as has been the traditional trend the season. The 2 put on another fantastic display of tactical batting, choosing who to attack and defend, as they manipulated the Stag’s bowlers whilst progressing the score towards the holy grail total of 200. During the combined effort, Black passed the 100 mark for 4th time this season and looked set for another huge score, before falling prematurely for a near chanceless 129 in the 42nd over, caught well on the ropes by Paterson at cow-corner. Oliver fell shortly afterwards for a battling 20 to be replaced by his son Alan Oliver with the total on 213. Rizwan Ashraf and Oliver then took the game to the opposition as they aimed to progress the score past 250 with the remaining 6 overs. Alan has perfected the art of batting at the death and didn’t disappoint as he blasted another quick fire 20 whilst Ashraf played a mirror innings, helping push the Cougars total to 260 for 8 off the allotted 50 overs. At this stage Black wasn’t looking such an idiot.
The Cougars were well aware that the Grange batting line-up wouldn’t be a walkover and this was aptly proved as the 2 openers Sean Hoffman and Ed DuBoulay caressed the ball to all parts of the ground in a sparkling opening partnership of 109 off 27 overs. A dejected CCCC’s side finally made the breakthrough when Hoffman skied A. Oliver for 50 and was easily taken by Hefer at cover. The Cougars had further reason to celebrate when DuBoulay risked a suicidal second run to fine leg, Ashraf sent a bullet throw straight over the stumps to a grateful Taylor and was run out for a classy  64 with the score on 119 off 29 overs. With ominous clouds lurking Clack’s new that a few tight overs would result in the Cougars winning on net run-rate, having completed 3/5ths of the required second innings. Alan  Oliver and Ashraf took the helm and didn’t disappoint sharing 4 quick wickets in the space of 5 overs whilst keeping the run to a bare minimum. With the expected down fall arriving in the 34th over with the score on 140 for 6 and not dispersing afterwards, victory was gifted to the title challengers on superior run rate. A fantastic opening partnership by Hoffman & DuBoulay was matched by a brilliant spell by A. Oliver and Ashraf as they finished with 3-35 (8.0) and 2-16 (7.4) and ensured the Cougars move another inch closer to winning their second consecutive league title.
Man of the match went to the controversial skipper Black with his 129, taking him with touching distance of the fabled 1000 run mark for the season (129 still to go). Dick of the day wasn’t an easy choice but it has to go to Anderson again for falling victim to the only double bouncer of the season