By Dan Smith

Following last Sunday’s victory over Rossie Priory 2nds Clackmannan’s third eleven welcomed them back to the Arns hopeful of doing the double over the Perthshire side. However, things were to get more complicated for the hosts before a ball was bowled as late call offs meant that they would take the field with only 9 players. Skipper Tippu Sultan won the toss and elected to bat.
His decision was vindicated by openers Alan Oliver and Dan Smith as they put on an opening partnership of 42 in the first eleven overs, made even more miraculous by Oliver’s stinking hangover and all of the extras that came with it. Unfortunately after 11.2 overs Oliver edged behind and was on his way back to the pavilion. “Boom Boom” Sultan then came to the crease and immediately found his stride, viciously striking the bowlers to all parts of the ground. Smith and Sultan batted comfortably until the 22nd over when Smith was out for 47, caught at cover trying to hit over the Priory infield. Riswan Ashraf joined the skipper at the crease and both looked comfortable, with the score accelerating from 109 to 143 before Sultan was trapped LBW. This sparked a collapse of Pakistani test side proportions as Clackmannan slipped from 144 for 3 to 164 all out. This was a reasonable total posted by the 9 Clackmannan players however it could have been so much more with the solid platform being built by the first three batsmen.
In reply Rossie Priory started there innings in a measured fashion, defending the good balls and carving any loose deliveries from the Clackmannan openers Rizwan Ashraf and Tariq Mehboob to the boundary. After both bowlers first spells were wicketless, skipper Sultan brough himself on and took a wicket in his second over, having opposition skipper Lynch caught by Ashraf at mid off. This brought ex-Clackmannan player Mark McAlpine to the crease, and having survived a massive LBW appeal first up began to play the bowling with ease. He scored a quick 14 before being sharply caught at slip by Sultan off the bowling of Alan Oliver. The next three wickets all fell to the skipper who was bowling beautifully. Firslty he dismissed the opposition wicket keeper with a rising delivery which was edged to Smith behind the sticks who held onto a sharp catch. Sultan then dismissed the dangerous Stephens for 32, courtesy of a stunning diving catch by Oliver at point; all signs of his hangover having dispersed. Sultan and wicketkeeper Smith then combined again to dismiss the Priory number six, and at 73 for 5 after 22 overs it appeared that Clackmannnan were in the driving seat. However, a partnership between Caddick and G Rodney (one of 3 Rodney’s)  took the Priory score to 116 before Caddick was run out. Credit for this must go to Alan Oliver whose superb throw to Smith left the keeper with the little to do but remove the bails. Will Kay then dismissed Priory’s number 8 with a beat of a delivery, trapping him LBW. Oliver then bowled A Rodney to once again turn the game on its head with Priory reeling at 117 for 8. However, a partnership between father and son (S Rodney) took the score to 155, with G Rodney having several slices of fortune with Clackmannan having several massive LBW appeals turned down.  When S Rodney was dismissed by Ashraf there was still work to be done by the away side, but G Rodney farmed the strike well and saw his side home with two overs to spare.
A disappointing defeat for the 3rds but it was a valiant effort from the 9 Clackmannan players involved. Thanks must also go to Rossie Priory for the provision of substitute fielders.