Clackmannan County Cricket Club

By Craig Black

Clackmannans 1st X1 got their promotion campaign back on track with a good victory on Saturday against Murrayfield DAFS 2nd’s. Clackmannan skipper Craig Black won the toss and opted to bat first on a hard and flat wicket. That decision looked to have been a mistake as Graham Oliver (2), Craig Black (3) and Dan Smith (14) all found themselves back in the changing rooms with the score on only 23. The sidelines were a quiet and uncomfortable place as fears over a Clackmannan collapse began to take hold. Graeme Anderson and Gordon Oliver had different ideas however, and began constructing a vital 50 run partnership which took the total up to 70 before Anderson (30), who was looking in sublime form, had a lapse of judgement and left a ball from Settu which cannoned onto his stumps. Davie Watkins replaced him and after getting his eye in began to caress the ball to all parts of the ground. At the other end Oliver was playing the mature and experienced role, holding the innings together, and he was rewarded as he brought up his 50 in the 36th over. Meanwhile Watkins (37) was relishing the bowling attack and this showed when he dispatched the opener Singh for a straight 6, his first ever maximum. With the total on 155, Davie departed after top edging to fly-slip off Scott. Ashraf failed to add to the score as he was caught in the slips off Shiels and Oliver’s vigil came to an end shortly after, clean bowled by Shiels for a resilient 64. At 168 for 7, Alan Oliver and Keith Hefer were set the task of getting the total to the 200 mark off the last 7 overs. The pair batted brilliantly and dismantled the bowling, Hefer finally falling for 23 off 16 balls, when he was caught behind off Sorrell, after helping push the score to 192 with 5 overs to go. Grieg Taylor continued where he left off, blasting a quick-fire 15 before being cleaned bowled by Singh, as the total passed 200 and raced to 220. Will Kay was next in and he played the spectator as Oliver continued his gem of an innings, eventually finishing off on 29* off only 20 balls and helping push the score to 236 off the 50 overs.
Hefer and Ashraf took the new ball and first blood was drawn when Ashraf clean bowled Vora (7) with the score on 27. MFDAFS continued to attack and to keep up with required run rate, Shields in particular, playing some lusty blows off the majority of bowlers. The introduction of Alan Oliver’s slow left arm spin eventually put the shackles on the away teams onslaught, and he was rewarded for his efforts with 3 wickets in 4 overs, firstly trapping Shields (40) LBW, then bowling Banks (16) and finally having Settu (8) adjudged LBW. With the score on 88 for 4 after 25 overs, the opposition skipper Lacey and Sorrell started to restore the innings with some well placed shots and excellent running between the wickets, pushing the total to 129 before Oliver picked up his 4th wicket of the innings in his final over, clean bowling Sorrell for 15. Kay and Black continued for the County and both bowled well, keeping the run rate below the required level. With the score on 157 in the 42nd over, Black misfielded at midoff and Baikie (7) decided to chance a second run to the ever accurate arm of Hefer at deep mid on. Cue a brilliant throw from the deep, and a direct hit left the batsmen well short of his ground. Kay was rewarded for his persistence a couple overs later when Shah (9) lofted a straight drive to Black at deep mid off with the score on 166. With 72 needed off the last 6 overs, Clackmannan knew that the game was almost certainly theirs for the taking and when Lacey was finally caught behind by Taylor off the reintroduced Ashraf for a well constructed 54, the celebrations could almost begin. Anderson struck in the penultimate over when Black took another catch at deep cover to dismiss Singh (3) and Hefer finished it off on the first ball of the final over, having Nussum caught behind by Taylor for 1, leaving MFDAFS 204 all out, 32 runs short of the Cougar’s total.
This was a fine team performance from Clackmannan with everyone contributing in some format for the first time this season. The team highlight of the match was some splendid running between the wickets by all the batsmen, stealing at least 30 runs and possibly converting a losing total to a winning one.
Man of the match this week was deservedly awarded to Alan Oliver for his 29* and 4-27 off 10 overs. Dick of the Day was a somewhat harder decision. Anderson seemed to have it rapped up with his ludicrous choice of what balls to leave, but Will Kay excelled himself and managed to make the title his own thanks to his impromptu bathroom break behind the see through sightscreen. Thanks Will!

Match Report
Clackmannan County 1st XI v Murrayfield DAFS
Click here to view scorecard
Date 6/6/2010	Venue Teh Arns	Result Win	Weather Sunny
By Craig Black Clackmannans 1st X1 got their promotion campaign back on track with a good victory on Saturday against Murrayfield DAFS 2nd’s. Clackmannan skipper Craig Black won the toss and opted to bat first on a hard and flat wicket. That decision looked to have been a mistake as Graham Oliver (2), Craig Black (3) and Dan Smith (14) all found themselves back in the changing rooms with the score on only 23. The sidelines were a quiet and uncomfortable place as fears over a Clackmannan collapse began to take hold. Graeme Anderson and Gordon Oliver had different ideas however, and began constructing a vital 50 run partnership which took the total up to 70 before Anderson (30), who was looking in sublime form, had a lapse of judgement and left a ball from Settu which cannoned onto his stumps. Davie Watkins replaced him and after getting his eye in began to caress the ball to all parts of the ground. At the other end Oliver was playing the mature and experienced role, holding the innings together, and he was rewarded as he brought up his 50 in the 36th over. Meanwhile Watkins (37) was relishing the bowling attack and this showed when he dispatched the opener Singh for a straight 6, his first ever maximum. With the total on 155, Davie departed after top edging to fly-slip off Scott. Ashraf failed to add to the score as he was caught in the slips off Shiels and Oliver’s vigil came to an end shortly after, clean bowled by Shiels for a resilient 64. At 168 for 7, Alan Oliver and Keith Hefer were set the task of getting the total to the 200 mark off the last 7 overs. The pair batted brilliantly and dismantled the bowling, Hefer finally falling for 23 off 16 balls, when he was caught behind off Sorrell, after helping push the score to 192 with 5 overs to go. Grieg Taylor continued where he left off, blasting a quick-fire 15 before being cleaned bowled by Singh, as the total passed 200 and raced to 220. Will Kay was next in and he played the spectator as Oliver continued his gem of an innings, eventually finishing off on 29* off only 20 balls and helping push the score to 236 off the 50 overs. Hefer and Ashraf took the new ball and first blood was drawn when Ashraf clean bowled Vora (7) with the score on 27. MFDAFS continued to attack and to keep up with required run rate, Shields in particular, playing some lusty blows off the majority of bowlers. The introduction of Alan Oliver’s slow left arm spin eventually put the shackles on the away teams onslaught, and he was rewarded for his efforts with 3 wickets in 4 overs, firstly trapping Shields (40) LBW, then bowling Banks (16) and finally having Settu (8) adjudged LBW. With the score on 88 for 4 after 25 overs, the opposition skipper Lacey and Sorrell started to restore the innings with some well placed shots and excellent running between the wickets, pushing the total to 129 before Oliver picked up his 4th wicket of the innings in his final over, clean bowling Sorrell for 15. Kay and Black continued for the County and both bowled well, keeping the run rate below the required level. With the score on 157 in the 42nd over, Black misfielded at midoff and Baikie (7) decided to chance a second run to the ever accurate arm of Hefer at deep mid on. Cue a brilliant throw from the deep, and a direct hit left the batsmen well short of his ground. Kay was rewarded for his persistence a couple overs later when Shah (9) lofted a straight drive to Black at deep mid off with the score on 166. With 72 needed off the last 6 overs, Clackmannan knew that the game was almost certainly theirs for the taking and when Lacey was finally caught behind by Taylor off the reintroduced Ashraf for a well constructed 54, the celebrations could almost begin. Anderson struck in the penultimate over when Black took another catch at deep cover to dismiss Singh (3) and Hefer finished it off on the first ball of the final over, having Nussum caught behind by Taylor for 1, leaving MFDAFS 204 all out, 32 runs short of the Cougar’s total. This was a fine team performance from Clackmannan with everyone contributing in some format for the first time this season. The team highlight of the match was some splendid running between the wickets by all the batsmen, stealing at least 30 runs and possibly converting a losing total to a winning one. Man of the match this week was deservedly awarded to Alan Oliver for his 29* and 4-27 off 10 overs. Dick of the Day was a somewhat harder decision. Anderson seemed to have it rapped up with his ludicrous choice of what balls to leave, but Will Kay excelled himself and managed to make the title his own thanks to his impromptu bathroom break behind the see through sightscreen. Thanks Will!