Uddingston claim top spot as Lyons hits two sixes in dramatic final over

Uddingston savoured the joy of last-over success to hit the summit of the Premier table – a week after enduring the misery of last-ball defeat.

The Bothwell Castle side produced a thrilling run chase at Henry Thow Oval to end Prestwick’s unbeaten start to the campaign and, with West of Scotland also losing their 100 per cent record, it was enough for Uddy to claim pole position. Only seven days earlier Uddingston had lost off the last ball to West and skipper Bryan Clarke revealed: “That defeat gave us an opportunity to regroup and have another look at how we are setting up.

“We took that into the Prestwick game and have got the reward at the end of a really tough game.”

Clarke’s men were up against it when the home side’s top order flew out of the blocks to reach 100 in only 12 overs. However, Uddy’s slower bowlers applied the brakes, Amir Gul claiming four for 16 from ten overs while Ross Lyons, later to star with the bat, took three for 33.

Gurupreet Singh top-scored for the hosts with 55no while Mitchell Rao (33), Fraser Macdonald (31) and Tom Fleet (30) all made valuable contributions to a total of 253 for nine.

Anwar Hafeez spearheaded the reply with a brilliant century from 130 balls but when he was out, hit wicket off Sachin Chaudhary, Uddingston still needed to score at more than eight runs an over. With 14 then required from the final over, former Scotland star Lyons hit two mighty sixes as Uddingston won with two balls to spare.

Clarke added: “Prestwick should probably have been looking at 300, so our bowlers did a brilliant job to contain them. Anwar then set the game up for us – he’s found some form and rhythm at the right time and played beautifully for his hundred before Ross finished it off with a great knock, sticking to what he does best.” Champions Ferguslie ended the only other unbeaten record with a 91-run defeat of West of Scotland at Hamilton Crescent.

In a match reduced to 42 overs, Ferguslie openers Gregor Preston-jones and Taimoor Ahmad paved the way for a competitive total with 33 apiece before professional Nkosana Mpofu cashed in with a fluent 80 as the visitors posted 203.

Mpofu was one of Rory Kleinveldt’s three victims, the South African international then hitting 53 in vain as a solid all-round bowling display fired the champions firmly into title contention.

Half-centuries by Paddy Barbour and Angus Guy were the highlight of Clydesdale’s 102run win over Drumpellier at Titwood while Poloc’s recent revival continued with a nine-wicket success at East Kilbride.

Like EK, Greenock are still searching for an elusive first victory after falling six runs short against Stirling at Glenpark.