By I'll let you guess

With the news that the first team were promoted to Division 2, the 2nd XI were in high spirits to end the season with a win. With the pre-game drama !!! of call-offs from Captain Nick Bryant-Nicolls & Ken Hutchison, Ash Rasul, took up the captaincy for this game.

The team set off on the journey to Meggetland however in Rory Dows car (Bertha) things were on the up until the four valuable?? players of Ally Band, Matthew Booth, Rory Dow and Blair Campbell, who were in the car when the car broke down at the side of the motorway - with ten minutes till the game was due to begin. Hmm! After frantic phone calls to any club player we could contact the four were saved by Tony Carman, who was late for the game also, and made their way to the game minus Rory and “Bertha”.

After some directions from locals Tony, Blair, Ally and Matty eventually made it to Meggetland Sports Ground with Clackmannan’s score on 16 for 1 after 3 overs, with Graeme Fraser who was back in the ‘clubhouse’ having been caught for 0, Captain Ash Rasul and Tipu Sultan were at the crease and appeared to want to steady the innings with some big hitting and careful shot selection. The two batted well for the next 4 overs, pushing the score to 44 before Rasul (24) played on to his stumps from Durrami. Having arrived some 30 mins late Blair Campbell walked to the crease knowing that he had a string of low scores on his shoulders, the pressure was on for the number four. Campbell wasted no time at all to get the score pushed along with some very well timed cut shots off Mohammad. With the score on 55 for 2 off 10 overs, Tipu Sultan fell victim to Mohammad whilst trying to hit over long off but instead skied a sitter to Read at Long off. Ally Band (3) was next in and next to go, with a shot across the line to an in swinging Mohammad delivery. Mathew Booth (0) faced one ball from Mohammad, which was a slower ball which pitched short of a length and hit the top of off stump. With Tony Carman at the crease with the ever more confident Campbell the pair took the score to 103 for 5 before Carman was bowled for 10 off Perry’s bowling. With Campbell and Kash Ali looking to push the run rate along Campbell was able to find the boundary with ease with some very powerfully-timed drives through cover and straight past the bowler. Ali survived a few overs before he was bowled by Docherty. Will Kay joined Campbell and Kay had some battle with Hassan Durrani, before the latter won with an out swinger that bowled Will for 2. Young Alan Deacon Listened to the in form Campbells advice and battled a few balls before he too was comprehensively bowled by Durrani for 0. Calum Ross joined Campbell at the crease with the score on 128 for 9 off 34 overs. Campbell was looking in great form and it was in the 36th over where he achieved his second half century for the club with a cut shot through the off side from the bowling of Dickson. The pair proved to be unstoppable with Campbell scoring the runs and Ross sticking about. Campbell produced some more straight drives and tried to keep as much strike as possible but found it hard and the two batted the 45 overs out. Calum Ross finishing on a well deserved 9not not and Campbell finishing on a personal best of 85 not out. Clackmannan’s total, 181 for 9 off 45 overs.

Boroughmuir seemed confident as they set about getting to the top of the table by attacking Tipu Sultan in his first over. Campbell bowled from the Railway end and produced some marvellous out swinging deliveries that proved too much for the openers. Campbell bowled Perry (4) in his first over and produced the best ball ever seen by many players including Craigmile the left-handed opener, who left an inswinging delivery which swung a mile and hit his off stump to remove him for 13. This inspirational opening spell from Campbell left the home side 36 for 2 after 6 overs. Sultan need not wait long until he got his first wicket, a brilliant catch by Kash Ali at gully to remove Dickson for 4. Clackmannan had to wait a while until Captain Ash brought on Kash Ali to get the next two wickets. Kash having bowled a googly which completely deceived Durrani and popped a catch back to Ali, Durrani dismissed for a well fought 26. Mohammad did not survive long as he skied a leg spinning delivery to Rasul behind the stumps to leave the home side on 100 for 5 after 24 overs, still 82 required. Docherty was batting wellwith Skidmore, therefore Campbell was brought back into the attack to produce the same bowling that picked him up 2 wickets in his opening spell. However on this occasion he was not successful..........!!
Rasul brought himself on and picked up the wicket of Skidmore (7) trapping him in front of middle. Ally Band replaced the furious Campbell and picked up the wicket of Docherty with Carman receiving a chest height caught behind chance from the edge of Docherty’s bat. Although these crucial wickets were taken Clackmannan could not save the victory with Ghandi(21*) and Read(13*) picking up the 3 wicket win with 15 balls remaining. Boroughmuir finishing on 182 for 7 wickets off 42.3 overs.

A great day despite the score was had by all. We would like to wish Boroughmuir all the best in Division 5 next season.
Man of the match deservedly went to Blair Campbell with his inspiring batting performance of 85* and bowling figures of 2 for 10 off 8.
Dick of the day went to Rory Dow who swore at his Sat Nav before it turned off and killed his car, literally 2 seconds later, and was stuck on the A720 Edinburgh South Bypass for about 2 hours. We are happy to report that he eventually made it to the game before the Clackmannan innings were over.