Scorecard

Match Report

Clackmannan County first team set out for Leith on Saturday to play Leith Franklin Accies. As befits a season which has not been an easy one for the Alloa side, the team were late leaving for the last game of the season. Fortunately Matthew Booth stepped into the breach at the last minute after yet another late call off. The omens did not look promising. On a cool dull day at Leith Links Clackmannan batted first. The county side opened with Fouad Chaudhry and Tipo Sutlan who made 19 for the first wicket before Chaudhry was caught for 7. On his final appearance of the year Australian, Greg Jones joined Sultan to hit a sparkling 55 before being bowled by Middleton. The score by this time a very respectable 114 for 3 wickets in 18 overs. Gordon Oliver strode purposefully to the crease only to stride purposefully back again the next ball. His dismay not helped by the Leith teams joy at his dismissal. They reminded him that they had not been able to get him out at their ground for the last three years. Professional Matt Friedlander playing his last game for the club came to the wicket and before he lest had scored eleven fours and one six in his total of 69. Ash Rasul followed this up with 43 before being LBW on the toe to Wrigley, from this point a mini collapse saw the Clackmannan innings completed at 272 all out in 42overs. Most successful of the Leith bowlers, N Fraser 3 for 20 in five overs and J Wrigley 3 for 10 in 4 overs.

The Leith side had been given the advantage of an extra 8 overs to make the runs required, not the first time this season the Clackmannan side have been in this position. However this time an early breakthrough of the fifth ball of Matt Friedlanders first over saw Fraser heading back to the pavilion for 4. Clackmannnan kept up the pressure with Fouad Chaudhry bowling his usual immaculate line and Friedlaner blasting away at the other end. Chaudhry struck twice in the one over to give the Alloa side a boost. Three down for eighteen in the sixth over. But cometh the hour cometh the man D Harris refused to be railroaded into mistakes by this quick fall of wickets. Harris held the Leith innings together before being bowled by Friedlander for 70 with 188 for 7 on the board in the 77th over of the game. Any thoughts that Clackmannan may have had about being into the tail were soon squashed as Leith through Midddleton and Wrigley brought the score to 234. Young Noor Jahinger just back from holiday was brought into the bowling attack and got the breakthrough Middleton caught Rasul for 39. Wrigley batted on to make 25 then was caught on the boundary by Hussain off Jones. Leith all out for 238 in the 87th over. Most effective bowlers for Clackmannan Chaudhry 3 wickets for 42 off 10 overs, Friedlander 3 for 62 off 15 and Jahinger 2 for 33 of 6. A rare win for Clackmannan in this less than successful season but too late to avoid division 2 cricket next year.