Scorecard

Match Report

On an absolutely wonderful day for cricket with the sun shining the County 2nd XI took on Falklands 3 at the Arns. The ground was looking good, well cut and cared for, a testament to the ground team, who spend so much time and effort on the Arns. No matter how well (or not) the teams do Clackmannan County has a ground of which we can be proud. It seems no time at all since the first game of 2003 but this encounter was the last home league game of the season. Falkland came to the Arns looking for points to aid their promotion challenge whereas Clackmannan already relegated were playing for their pride. For the first time this season the second team hit the park with no changes to the team picked on Tuesday.

Falkland won the toss and decided to field, looking for a sun tan and with memories, no doubt of the Clackmannan batting in the game at Falkland. The successful partnership of Neil Tranter and Iain Davies once again made their way to the wicket. Davies was the first to return in the 19th over for a personal total of 10 but with 59 hard earned runs in the bag. Neil Tranter was joined by Neil Brown but Brown popped up a catch from a ball which confirmed that this was a bowlers wicket, back in the hutch for two. His dismay was slightly offset by the news that Hibernian were leading Rangers 2 - 1. What was the final score again Neil? Neil Brown was replaced at the crease by Neil Ramsay. Any other Neil's out there looking for a game of cricket we could try and go for a full team of Neils. Tranter and Ramsay edged the score along without looking in any difficulty until Tranter pulled a muscle and had to retire. Neil Tranters scored 31, his last game of the season, another good score and an object lesson for the young players in how to build an innings. Mike Nash joined Neil "three" at the crease and soon began to attempt to whack the ball about, what his injured shoulder thought about this is probably best not discussed. Ramsay straight batted his way to a solid 20 before being caught off Donnelly. Neil was replaced at the wicket by big sister Alison. Mike and Alison moved the score along both hitting the ball hard but seeming to find fielders with great regularity. Mike blasted a ball which looked as if it was a certain four only to find Alison had brought off one of the best stops of the day fielding the ball with her kidney. The Clackmannan players commiserated with Alison later, hoping that in time her reactions will improve, so she can get out of the way faster. Nash was dismissed the same way as Neil Ramsay caught off Donnelly for a captains 26. Alison was joined by John Brown who overtook his sons score with his first hit. John having sussed that it was quite warm had obviously decided that the way forward was to hit the ball over the boundary as often as possible. With twelve off his first three scoring shots the plan was well under way, however the 45 overs had all but gone. Alison Ramsay added a bit of extra sunshine to Alistair Melville's day by going for a hoick (according to her "a straight lofted drive", aye right! ) and being bowled. This was Alistair's 40th league wicket this year, a feat he has never accomplished before in all the years he has played cricket. John Brown was joined by Paul Nash but time had run out and the innings closed at 141 for five in 47 overs. The Falkland bowlers bowled accurately and to their set field to keep the Clackmannan side within reach.

Falkland opened the batting with Dave and Chris Jackman to the bowling of Matthew Booth and Neil Ramsay. The two young bowlers bowled well, by the 12th over only 26 runs had been scored. However by the 20th over Falkland were back on track with the Clackmannan run rate at 54 when the first wicket fell. Chris Jackman scored 19 before another father-son combination, caught Mike, bowled Paul Nash saw an end to a good stand. Mike Nash tried different permutations of his bowlers but could not find the formula to break down the Falklands batting. Dave Jackmann eventually fell bowled to Paul Nash, with Rory Chalmers(15), Jonathan Paisley(13), Graham Davie(11) and Gerry Donnely all doing their bit. Paul Nash bowled twelve overs 3 wickets for 51 runs. Matthew Booth and Neil Ramsay bowled economically without any luck. Matthew 8 overs for 34, Neil 9 overs for 18 then a disastrous over with seven wides to give his average an ordinary look. Alison Ramsay bowled 3 overs for 12 runs and once again young Alistair Band got in about the wickets bowling two overs 1 for 12.

A good game played in excellent spirit. That Alistair Melville took the time at the tea interval to congratulate Alison Ramsay on her batting and explain his delight at accomplishing his excellent bowling feat showed that cricket can be played as a friendly but competitive sport at this level.

On a personal note. Its the last 2nd XI game of the season for Clackmannan and we return to division 7 to think again. Our biggest problem has been the un-availability of players even although the playing pool is 51 when everyone is available. We have seen from our opponents the advantages of accurate bowling and bowling to a set field and will take that on board. Like Largo and Falkland, Clackmannan County is a family based club which invests heavily in junior coaching (for boys and girls). Our empathy with these clubs in the way we all approach the game will ensure that our links to them through the juniors will remain. Thanks to those who made our brief sojourn into Division 6 a pleasant experience, we'll be back!