Scorecard

Match Report CCCC 1st XI vs. Leith Franklin Beige 1st XI

Clackmannan County first team travelled to Leith Links to play Leith Franklin Beige on Saturday. The young Clackmannan side needed a victory in a league where they seem fixed to the bottom.
After a rain delayed start, the Clackmannan skipper won the toss and elected to bat. The Clackmannan opening batsmen, Neil Ramsay and Richard Passe, batted sensibly moving the score to 10 in 5 overs before Ramsay was dismissed caught at gully for 7 runs. Ash Rasul joined Passe and the pair looked to settle into a solid partnership. However, this was not to be, two overs later, Passe (1) was bowled playing across the line. Leith opening bowler Watt had removed both the opening batsmen and Clackmannan were 2wickets down for 12 runs off 8 overs. Alan Oliver joined Rasul at the crease and again the two looked to be building a strong partnership and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Leith captain brought on his talisman bowler, Higgins. This proved to be Rasul’s downfall, after smashing a sparkling four, he was out two balls into Higgins’ spell playing early through a lofted straight drive and a good catch was taken by Middleton at Mid-off. James Couper joined Oliver at the crease but the dressing room door was still swinging, as he returned to the dressing room, after played all around a straight ball, out for nought off his first ball. The heavens then opened and both sides retired to the pavilion, Clackmannan to contemplate a score of 24 for 4 off 14 overs. Not the best of starts for the county side, but sadly becoming the norm. After twenty minutes, Oliver and new batsmen, Zahid Hussain re-emerged and looked eager to play. The two youngsters buckled down and played with a straight bat, keeping the score ticking along. In a reprise of last weeks dismissal Oliver (8), after batting well and looking comfortable, was run out due to poor communication between the two partners. Macolmson, the county skipper joined Hussain, however, an over later, the skipper was back in the pavilion for 0 runs, ajudged LBW. Matthew Booth joined Hussain and the two played some nice shots. Once again, rain halted play and the decision was taken to have an early tea. After tea, Hussain and Booth looked to carry on where they had left off. However Higgins thought otherwise and soon, bowled Booth for 9. Kashif Ali joined Hussain and batted in his usual swashbuckling style. Ali scored a quick seven but was caught superbly by Middleton who plucked the ball out of the air as it whistled passed for a certain four. Mukhtar Ahmed arrived at the crease and played sensibly, accompanying Hussain who was building a good innings. Ahmed seemed unfortunate to fall LBW to Majur after scoring 6 runs. Last man Greig Taylor came to the crease. Next over Hussain pushed at the ball and was caught behind off Middleton for 31 valuable runs. Clackmannan were 89 all out in 42.3 overs.
Leith began with two big hitters, Matta and Tariq who smashed their way to 33 in seven overs before the first wicket fell. Booth made the first breakthrough when Tariq was judged LBW for 18 runs. Hinez, Leith’s keeper, started off batting tentatively but quickly found his feet. The next wicket to fall was Matta(18). A “well planned” attack by Rasul saw the batsmen try to hit the bowler out of the park but, instead was caught by James Couper, on the square leg boundary. A great catch by Couper, at his feet, the celebration dance, deserving of Saturday night television. Fraser (13 no) joined Hinez (30no) and the two scored the remaining runs needed for a Leith victory. A good performance by Leith showing the young Clackmannan side how to cope with, what for the Clackmannan side was, yet another wet pudding wicket. 20 points to Leith for the win, 2 for Clackmannan.
A plus point for Clackmannan, Zahid Hussain’s 31, but with extras the second top scorer on 11 the problem with the Clackmannan sides’ lack of runs still remains. Hopefully an improvement in the weather and the pace of the wickets will even up the balance which has moved so cruelly against this young side over the last few weeks.

Greigs unabridged report CCCC 1st XI vs. Leith Franklin Beige 1st XI

Leith Franklin Beige 1st’s were the opponents for Clackmannan County this week. The young Clacks side needed a victory in a league where they are lurking near the bottom. (near the bottom Greig if we were any nearer the bottom we would be down the plughole!)
After a rain delay, the clacks skipper won the toss and elected to bat. The two openers for the county were N. Ramsay and R.Passe. The two batted sensibly moving the score to 10 in 5 overs before Ramsay tried to flick a ball to leg and the ball took a leading edge for 7 runs. The ball popped up and an easy catch was taken at gully. Ash Rasul joined Passe and the two played on. However, two overs later, Passe (1) was bowled trying to play an extravagant shot. The score had only moved on by two and the two openers had gone. The bowler, Watt, had gained two easy wickets. Alan Oliver joined Rasul at the crease and the two kept the scoreboard ticking over. Leith captain brought on his talisman bowler, Higgins. This was a good change as Rasul was out two balls into his spell. Rasul (8) mistiming a shot and a good catch was taken by Middleton at Mid-off. James Couper (0) joined Oliver at the crease and Couper’s first ball was a jaffa. It took a little nick and he was caught behind for a golden duck. The heavens then opened and both sides came in. At this first rain break, CCCC were 24 for 4 off 14 overs. Not the best of starts for the county side. After twenty minutes inside, Oliver and new batsmen, Zahid Hussain re-emerged and looked as if they wanted to play. The two players played with a straight bat and kept the score ticking along. Next to go was Oliver being run out. He went for a single that really wasn’t there but bad calling between the two was Oliver’s downfall. Macolmson, CCCC skipper joined Hussain and an over later, the skipper was back in the pavilion for 0 runs. A dubious LBW decision but the skipper had to go. Matthew Booth joined Hussain and the two played some nice shots. The rain halted play again and the two teams came off and decided to have an early tea. After this, Hussain and Booth padded back up and got ready to go back out. Booth wasn’t in for long after the break being bowled by Higgins for 9. Kashif Ali joined Hussain and batted in his usual style. He scored a quick seven but was caught superbly by Middleton who plucked the ball out of the air. Mukhtar Ahmed arrived at the crease and played sensibly, accompanying Hussain who was building a good innings. The two batted on and advanced CCCC score to 88 before Ahmed departed. Another LBW shout that was given out but a clear inside edge was heard by everyone in the vicinity of the ground apart from the umpire. But as with the skipper, Ahmed needed to go after playing a somewhat good innings scoring 6 runs. Greig Taylor came to the crease. The next over, Hussain tried to push a single but ended up pushing to hard at the ball and nicked it straight to the keeper. End of the innings and CCCC had scored 88 all out of 44.3 overs. Taylor, 0 not out with Hussain finishing with 31 runs. The best performance of the innings by far was Hussain who played solidly.
Leith started off with two big hitters, Matta and Tariq. The two smashed their way to 33 in seven overs before the first wicket fell. Tariq was judged LBW for 18 runs. Booth has got a wicket after bowling some decent line and length balls. This brought Leith’s keeper, Hinez. He started off scarcely but found his feet quickly. The next wicket to fall was Matta (18). A well planned attack by Rasul saw the batsmen try to hit the bowl out of the park but was caught by Couper on the square leg boundary. A great catch by Couper at his feet but the celebration dance after such a good catch was somewhat undesirable. Fraser joined Hinez and the two scored the remaining runs needed for a Leith victory. Scores of 30 not out for Hinez and 13 not out for Fraser. A good performance by Leith which could not be mirrored by CCCC on a disappointing day for the county team. Things are looking bleak for Clackmannan in Division 2. After playing 4 games and losing all four, something needs to be done soon at Clackmannan if they want to stay in this league.