Wick stumble to ‘disaster’
Fraser Macdonald has urged Prestwick to bounce back from what he labelled a disaster weekend when the Henry Thow Oval men entertain Langside on Saturday.
A 23-run defeat at home to Clydesdale saw the visitors leapfrog Prestwick into top spot in the Premier Division.
Skipper Macdonald said: “We need a strong bounce back but with Ferguslie losing as well the title race is still wide open.
“We bossed 80 per cent of the match but we allowed their last pair a good partnership without them playing out of their skins. They just played sensible cricket.
“Our reply was going well but we then lost a couple of quick wickets and panic set in which is most unlike us.”
Prestwick looked well placed when ‘Dale tottered at 84-9 but a tenth wicket partnership worth 57 runs between Arun Krishna (25 not out) and Calum Drummond (24) allowed them to post 141 all out.
Majid Haq (4-18) had his third successive four wicket haul while Sachin Chaudhary took 3-24.
In reply, Inderjit Singh (22) and Chaudhary (31) put on 58 for the first wicket but Macdonald (18) was the only other to make double figures as Prestwick were blown away for 118 in 33.1 overs.
The St Ninians XI, who head to
Albert Park on Saturday, made it a gloomy weekend double when they lost by 23 runs away to Titwood.
Titwood were bowled for 188 in 37.1 overs (Jonathan Hulme 6-31, Callan Turner (2-59).
In reply, St Ninians were dismissed for 165 in 38.2 overs despite Jacob Stafford top scoring with 58 following his 127 of a week earlier.
Prestwick tasted mixed fortunes in a midweek cup double against Ayr at Cambusdoon.
‘Wick won in the McCulloch Cup by nine wickets after restricting Ayr to 136-6.
Michael English (30) and Lloyd Jefferson (32) put on 67 for the opening wicket before Prestwick slammed the brakes on the run rate.
In reply Prestwick were soon in their stride with Singh (74no) and Chaudry (34) ensuring few scares as Prestwick won with four overs to spare.
But it was Ayr’s turn for glory in the Rowan Cup 24 hours later as they gained revenge with a narrow victory in a high scoring match.
English hit a rapid 63 off 32 balls in an opening stand of 81 with Jefferson before Scott McElnea blasted 82 not out off only 41 balls as Ayr finished on 192-5 from their 20 overs.
The Prestwick reply was in the balance until English claimed the wickets of Gurupreet Singh (32) and Chaudry (60) to push the required run rate up to over ten an over.
Cameos from Mark Morrison (20) and Euan McBeth (30) gave Prestwick a glimmer of hope, but once they departed the visitors’ chances were gone, and Ayr won by nine runs.