DERBY DECIDER
McElnea would love title showdown
Scott McElnea says it’s great for Ayrshire cricket that Prestwick and Ayr are slugging it out for the title.
With only six games to go, third- place Ayr trail leaders Prestwick by eight per cent.
And wi t h a b i g Cambusdoon derby looming on August 5, former skipper McElnea says there is everything to play.
Prestwi ck captain Shahzad Rafiq has tried to heap the pressure on Ayr by labelling them as title favourites and saying the Oval men are only a feeder for their arch rivals.
But McElnea hit back: “I think Shaz is trying to stir things up but with good intent.
“Prestwick are going well with a lot of depth but we are focusing on ourselves and not looking elsewhere.
“It’s exciting for the league that the title could be decided in the derby which will be a fun game to play in.
“We’re confident of playing our best cricket as the home team.
“We have so much depth in batting which is our strength.”
Rain wiped out almost all cricket last weekend, including Ayr’s clash with Uddingston Cambusdoon.
The only senior match played was between Ayr’s Development XI and BBC in the Evening League at Titwood.
Batting first, the BBC scored 178- 6 with Nari Bhandari taking 2- 23. In reply, Ayr got off to a solid start with Callum Rodger ( 51) and Lloyd Jefferson ( 63no) putting on 97 for the first wicket, but were always struggling to keep up with the run rate and fell 10 runs short of their target on 169- 2.
On Saturday, Ayr travel to Poloc in the league and on at Wednesday host Ferguslie in the semi- final of the McCulloch Cup ( sponsor Clancy Consulting).
The Cambusdoon XI entertain Shawholm on Saturday, while the Development XI head to Hillhead on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Prestwick are chasing glory on three fronts in another massive week.
After last weekend’s game at home to second top Ferguslie was washed out, they bid to press home their title claims when they head to Uddingston on Saturday.
On Wednesday night, the St Ninians X1 entertain Victoria 1st XI in the semi- final of the Western Cup.
At stake is a place in the final at Clydesdale against Clydesdale 2nd XI or Drumpellier 2nd XI.
Thursday night sees Prestwick in the final of the Rowan Cup when they take on Clydesdale at Poloc.
The only action last weekend saw Prestwick lose away to Irvine in the Sunday League.
Fletcher Rao took 2- 35 as Irvine reached 166- 8 but Prestwick crumbled to 86 all out despite opener Luke Smith carrying his bat with an unbeaten 58.