What a weekend
County teams firing on all cylinders
Stirling County had a successful four days of cricket, reaching the final of the 20-overs Murgitroyd Rowan Cup for the first time and registering a Western Union league double over current champions Prestwick,
Not to be outdone, the New Williamfield side’s 2nd XI racked up one of the biggest scores in the club’s history when they hit hapless Anniesland for 461 in 50 overs on Saturday and the Sunday XI sneaked through by one wicket against Perth Doocot thanks to the efforts of Gavin Anderson and Brandon McMullen.
Saturday’s match at New Williamfield saw Premier League champions Prestwick’s crown slipping from their grasp in a thrilling encounter.
On another gloriously sunny day, County batted first but lost four early wickets including last week’s centurion McMullen.
Graeme Taylor and Tom Jones began the rescue but when the latter attempted a risky ramp shot and was caught, things looked gloomy for Stirling.
Taylor went soon after for 64 and Prestwick regained the initiative to bowl County out for 160.
In reply, Prestwick were never in contention, losing wickets at regular intervals. When Rafiq was run out for 39, they were 110 for eight with one man injured but credit goes to E McBeth and J Morrison who hung around before the former was out.
C Morrison came in to bat with a runner with Prestwick needing 24 to win but Ali Mubarak took the final wicket to give County the win.
Wickets were shared with Mubarak taking three for 27 and Akram Shakoor three for 26.
On Saturday, County are away to Clydesdale. Matchball sponsor at the weekend was Emma Morton.
Last Thursday, County reached the final of the 20 overs Murgitroyd Rowan Cup in a tense affair at Uddingston.
The home side batted first, making 97 for nine, and Stirling looked comfortable at 85 for three. Then came a collapse of Australian proportions as six wickets fell for 11 runs only for Shakoor and Mubarak to get them over the line.
The final against Kelburne and Stirling County takes place at Shawholm on Thursday, July 12, starting at 6.15pm.
Club historians started looking through old scorebooks after news filtered through about the 2nds XI’s mammoth score against Anniesland in a Western Union Second Division game.
The Glasgow Accies 2nds side have struggled all season to get 11 players on the park, fielding seven against Kilmarnock when their opponents hammered 480 before bowling them out for 31.
On Saturday, they had 10 players – most of them under 16 – and were put to the sword as Akash Rawal scored 187 and Ian Shaw 132 not out in a score of 461 for four in 50 overs.
Stirling asked the umpires if they could declare but were told they couldn’t in the league rules so they kept on going.
In reply, only one Anniesland batsman made double figures with wickets being shared as they made 97 all out and a win for Stirling by 364 runs – which may be another County record as biggest winning margin. This weekend Stirling are at home to Albert Park (Weirs 2nds).
The winning weekend ended when the Sunday XI beat Perth Doocot by one wicket in a Strathmore and Perthshire Development game at New Williamfield.
Perth batted first and scored 165 all out with Callum Lucas (three for 26) and Andy Weir (two for 19) the main wicket takers. Jonny Bowes scored 31 for Stirling and it was left to Gavin Anderson (52 not out) and Brandon McNullen 35 not out) to see the team home.