Nightmare start for EK
Disaster struck for East Kilbride Cricket Club as they suffered a heavy defeat to defending West champions Clydesdale on the opening day of the season – losing by 199 runs.
Even in EK’s worst nightmares, they could not possibly have imagined they would play so poorly.
Clydesdale won the toss and captain, Con de Lange, elected to bat first.
The lack of consistent good balls from EK was evident as Clydesdale’s opening batsmen, Mo Awais (84 off 64 balls), climbed into any ball that was slightly off line and there was an abundance of bad deliveries.
It must be added that the outfield was wet and slippery when the game started, as many of the fielders slipped when they chased after balls.
The fast start that Awais created for Clydesdale set up their entire innings and allowed their incoming batsmen to play with freedom or take their time before launching an all out attack.
Richie Berrington, who is also a current Scottish international player, demolished the bowling attack of EK, playing a delightful innings and finished on an unbeaten 139 off 98 balls.
Farid also played a handy 32 off 32 balls to share a 113 run partnership with Berrington.
There was way too many balls bowled on both sides of the wicket and therefore no pressure was put on the batsmen. However you still have to score off the bad balls and no credit can be taken away from the Clydesdale batsmen on that behalf.
Moneeb Iqbal was EK’s best bowler with returning figures of 3-65, but Clydesdale posted a massive 339-6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Clydesdale showed EK how to bowl and humbled the visitors for a modest 140 runs all out, with Stewart Kampman top scoring for EK with 20 runs.
Thus Clydesdale recorded a thumping 199 run victory.
There are many issues that has to be addressed before they take on Greenock on Saturday and Ferguslie on Sunday. Otherwise it might be a very long season.