Scorecard

Match Report

The Clackmannan team struggling with several injuries to the squad re-introduced two famous names from the past. Our thanks to David Wilson and Dai Dalrymple for dusting down the whites and changing their leisure plans. Alison Ramsay captain again due to Mike Nash's injury won the toss and fielded, to the delight of the older players in the team! On a pitch where the run ups at both ends bring to mind that well know hit tune Climb Every Mountain the Alloa opening bowlers struggled to find line and length. The vast majority of the early runs consisted of wides. This gave the Falkland batsmen an easy start and there was sixty on board before the first wicket fell. Chalmers was unfortunate to slice a ball into his own eye and had to retire from the field to allow the swelling to develop into a real keeker. He returned after the fall of a wicket to carry on an make 27 before being caught behind by Richard Passe. Richard's first catch behind the stumps,at senior level, on a difficult pitch for a wicketkeeper. Paul Nash and David Mudie held the score down for a while but could not get the breakthrough. Alison brought on Dai and, after a couple of practice overs, was back to his usual self with the ball (he last played in 1995). By the end of over three he had taken his first wicket caught by the captain. Then misery, on the run up for his next over he snapped an achilles and had to go off. A sad end to the game for him. Alison Ramsay and Matthew Booth re-entered the fray, which proved to be a tale of two halves for the bowlers. Alison bowled well and was unlucky in her first spell taking 1wicket for 17 in seven overs, she finished taking 2 for 66 from ten overs. Matthew on the other hand had huge problems coping with the strange run up and pitch in his first spell but came back in his second spell to finish with 3 wickets for 45 in 12 overs. The Falkland total was a massive 219 for 6 with Wood(77) and C Jackman(49) working the ball well into space. The Clackmannan side were up against it from the start when their turn to bat arrived. The Falkland bowlers bowled accurately to a field which showed the advantage of local knowledge. Ian Davies played well and patiently for a solid 21 as all around him collapsed. Melville was the key, a good bowling performance searching out the batsmen's weaknesses with good thoughtful accurate. Paul Nash and Bob Ramsay stopped the rot for a while before Paul was bowled for 12. David Mudie came to the crease and produced the batting display of the innings before being caught by an excellent catch in the gully by Jackmann of the inevitable Melville. By this stage it was all over bar the shouting but juniors Jack Aitken and Greig Taylor managed to survive to allow a final total of 75 all out to be achieved. Beaten by a much stronger side, the Clackmannan team showed good spirit against the odds and the midges. The midges, flamin' Nora! The midges were unbelievable, clouds of the little muggers, all biting away furiously!