The sun goes down on ‘Lie’s undefeated record
Greenock hand hosts their first league loss of the season
The sun may have been shining but Ferguslie were left feeling miserable as they fell to their first league defeat of the season.
Greenock were the visitors to Meikleriggs in the Western Premier Division, looking to cause an upset against the league leaders.
‘Nok won the toss and opted to bat on the perfect Paisley surface as they took full advantage through openers Neil Flack and Harry Briggs.
The duo racked up 75 runs against Ferguslie bowlers Jamey Carruthers and Daoud Tahir, before David Stafford stumped Briggs for a total of 23.
The runs continued to flow. However, Ferguslie found themselves back in the game by removing Saurabh Bandekar when he was caught by Michael English off the bowling of new Scotland international Hamza Tahir.
That appeared to catch out Greenock as the runs started to dry up, however there proved to be no middle order collapse.
A fine 27-run seventh wicket partnership between Rod Mountford and Greg McDougall took Greenock past the 200-run mark in the 47th over.
English was once again involved as he gained an LBW decision to remove McDougall for 14.
Greenock added 12 runs in the final two overs to take them to a total of 214 for the loss of seven wickets.
Ferguslie knew they faced a tough task to get going and they opened their innings with Gregor Preston-Jones and English, both of who had scored centuries in the Paisley side’s fine win over Clydesdale the previous weekend.
But there was to be no repeat of that drama as Preston-Jones was caught out for just 12 runs.
South African professional Eliott Moses and English took the Ferguslie to 71 in the 16th over before Moses was caught by McDougall for 30 and with just five more runs added, the wicket of English was captured when the Ferguslie batsman was caught by Bandekar for 29.
Omar Hussain could only add six runs to the total as the Paisley side started to stare defeat in the eye.
Flack gained a further wicket for Greenock when he got Riyaad Henry, caught by Bandekar for 17 to leave the Paisley side on 102 for five midway through their innings.
A 41- run partnership between Taimoor Ahmed and Haroon Tahir provided some hope for Ferguslie – but it wasn’t enough.
Tahir was caught out for 24, before Carruthers and Hamza Tahir were bowled out to leave Ferguslie on 158 for 9.
Ferguslie’s last wicket fell on 180 when Flack had last man Daoud Tahir LBW.