Rowan Cup glory
EK hit the town after Rowan triumph
East Kilbride Cricket Club all-rounder Josh Johnston admits winning the Rowan Cup on a week night didn’t stop his side from partying well into the next morning.
The Torrance House outfit beat Ferguslie by seven wickets at Pollok Country Park last Thursday to lift the prestigious trophy for only the second time in the history of the 90-year-old T20 competition.
EK’s triumph is the second time in four years they have won the event, having beaten Clydesdale in 2012, and now progress to the T20 National Finals.
Talisman Ross Lyons was the star of the show, hitting two sixes and finishing on 51 not out, while Johnston – who grabbed the first wicket of the night for EK – and South African Petrus Coetzee made telling contributions.
The team made sure they savoured the moment, using one of sport’s oldest trophies as an ice bucket for their beers before enjoying a night on the tiles.
Johnston, from Westwood, said: “It was meant to be a quiet celebration, but that turned into a night in town until 3am.
“It was a great night and the guys deserved it.
“The team performance has been absolutely brilliant throughout the competition.
“Everyone made contributions, not just in the final but every round.
“It was a phenomenal feeling managing to get our hands on the trophy again and now we can look forward to the finals day.
“Managing to make the breakthrough wicket and the first of the evening was brilliant for me and the team is still buzzing from the result.”
Captain Harmanjit Singh (right) received the trophy from Western District Cricket Union chairman Alex Miller to get the party started and the EK all-rounder insisted the result was never in doubt.
He told the News: “Ross Lyons has been unbelievable for us and with him playing so well, we were never really in trouble.”