Batting is a disaster

Cochran Dickie Kelburne’s clash with Greenock in the Western Union Premier Division saw both sides looking to record their first league win of the season.

After winning the toss at Whitehaugh on Saturday and electing to bat first, Kelburne got off to a steady start, adding 16 runs in the first few overs before losing the first wicket on 16.

Unfortunately, from there on in, Kelburne produced their worst batting display of the season to collapse to 68 all out in the 22nd over.

Only three of the home team batsmen managed to reach double figures, with overseas amateur Bradley Joynt topscoring with 23, followed by Alex Gilmour with 13 and Dougie Wylie with 11 not out.

Outstanding performers with the ball for Greenock were Halbert and Flack who both finished with impressive figures of 4 for 25.

On a decent batting wicket this exceptionally disappointing performance left the Kelburne bowling attack with a virtually impossible task of trying to bowl Greenock for less that 68 to achieve that first elusive win.

In order to try and force a win early wickets were going to be key and Wylie claimed Kelburne’s first wicket with only three on the board, and then picked up a second with the score on 15 to leave Greenock on 15 for 2.

After a few decent blows Flack took the visitors to 36 before he departed for a breezy 27 which was to prove vital later on.

Kelburne then rallied with the introduction of Hamilton and Porter into the attack and from 46 for 3 the visitors were reduced to 50 for 7.

The Greenock tail was able to add a crucial 17 runs to edge up to 67 for 7 in pursuit of the 69 runs to win, and the game was to take a further twist when Joynt and MacLean both took a wicket with the score on 67, leaving the visitors requiring 2 runs to win and left the last wicket partnership at the crease.

Pick of the Kelburne bowlers was Jacques Porter who retuned figures of 3 for 22 and was backed up by both Hamilton and Wylie with 2 wickets apiece.

Unfortunately there was no dramatic ending and Greenock squeezed over the line to hand Kelburne their second onewicket defeat of the season and still in search of that first victory.

Overall it was a very poor batting performance which cost Kelburne victory in this game, and even a score of 100 would have proved more than enough to secure victory.

two wickets as the Warriors ran out comfortable winners at Strathmore.

“He has been selected in the squad for the full season and Ferguslie are delighted to see his hard work and talent being rewarded at regional level.”