Prestwick closing in on title success

Henry Thow Oval men are five games from glory

Prestwick are only five games away from the Western Premier Division title after rain won for the second week in a row.

The Henry Thow Oval men, who entertain Poloc on Saturday, lead second top Ferguslie by 5.34 per cent and are 8.14 per cent clear of third top Ayr.

They then close against Ayr ( away), Greenock ( home), Clydesdale ( home) and East Kilbride ( away).

Prestwick were handily placed against Uddingston at Bothwell Castle when the umpires called a halt and no result was declared.

The hosts were 198- 9 after 50 overs with Amir Gul hitting an unbeaten 74.

Prestwick’s reply was cut short at 4- 0 after only two overs with Shahzad Rafiq and Luke Smith at the crease.

Bowling: G Pitt 6- 0- 19- 1; W Rowan 10- 0- 27- 2; C Morrison 9- 0- 46- 2; F Jawad 3- 0- 16- 0; S Chaudhary 10- 2- 30- 1; M Rao 10- 1- 38- 3; R Patterson 2- 0- 15- 0.

Prestwick’s bid for the Rowan Cup ended in defeat to Clydesdale in the rain at Shawholm last Thursday.

Tom Fleet ( 45) and Faisal Jawad ( 34) helped Prestwick reach 162- 7.

In reply, Clydesdale were 132- 2 after 13 overs when rain called a halt, leaving them winners by 35 runs on Duckworth Lewis.

The St Ninians XI beat Uddingston by eight wickets in the Greenwood Trophy last week and now head to Kelburne in the semi- finals on Thursday. Rafiq hit an unbeaten 57.

On Saturday, the St Ninians XI beat Bothwell by 74 runs. The hosts were bowled for 244 with top knocks from Richard Bartsch ( 75), David Carlyle ( 55) and Sam Cole ( 26).

Bothwell were dismissed for 170 with Fletcher Rao taking 3- 22.

The Sunday League side had only nine players against Kelburne. Sixteen- year- old Euan McBeth hit 53, his first senior half- century and Kevin Lawler made 44 as Prestwick were dismissed for 141.

Despite McBeth bowling six overs for only nine runs and one wicket, Kelburne clinched victory at 144- 2.

On Monday, St Ninians XI beat Victoria in the semifinals of the Western Cup and now face Clydesdale 2nd XI in the final at Titwood on Tuesday.

Rafiq ( 81) and Smith ( 39) helped the Prestwick side to 181- 6. On- form Cole and McBeth both took two wickets as Victoria replied at 136- 7.

Saturday’s fixtures: 1st XI v Poloc ( home), sponsor Ian McKinnell; St Ninians XI v Shawholm ( away), sponsor Martin & White.