PRESTWICK
Prestwick bid to turn up the heat at the top of the Premier Division when they head to bottom team Greenock on Saturday.
But skipper Fraser Macdonald warns they must stay unbeaten between now and the season’s end to stay in the title hunt.
The Henry Thow Oval men sit just behind top pair Clydesdale and Ferguslie after a thrilling 28 run win over West of Scotland.
In a match filmed live on YouTube a first for the Prestwick ground – ‘Wick made a hot start with man of the match Macdonald and Jake Stafford putting on 95 for the first wicket before Stafford was bowled by James Fennah for 32.
Macdonald went on to make 62 and was well supported by Majid Haq (33) as Prestwick were dismissed for 179 in 47.4 overs.
West were decently placed at 115-4 but Prestwick dug in and Azeem Akbar took 4-30, including the last pair in successive deliveries, while Sachin Chaudhary (225) and Haq (2-27) played key roles. The visitors were dismissed for 151 with seven deliveries remaining.
Macdonald said: “It was disappointing that we didn’t kick on after a good start when 220 or 230 would have been a good platform.
“We finished with a below par score which put us under pressure but we bowled tightly.
“Ross Patterson removed Andy Hislop with a great catch to change the game.
“We took our half chances, including four or five spectacular catches, to win the game.
“It’s still in our hands but to win the league we would have to go unbeaten and obviously the games against Clydesdale and Ferguslie will be massive.
“We will hope for a resounding win on Saturday because I would expect Clydesdale to win at Poloc and Ferguslie to beat Dumfries away.”
The St Ninians XI lost by seven wickets to Partick at Hamilton Crescent after being bowled out for 80 in 32.3 overs with only Ross Kennedy (17) and Matt Morgan (15) managing double figures.
Partick took only 20.4 overs to reach 81-3 despite the best efforts of star man Jonathan Hulme who took two wickets for 22 off 10 overs.
St Ninians were due to meet Partick in the final of the Western Cup at Meikleriggs on Tuesday night. On Saturday, they host Whitehaugh.
Tonight (Wednesday), Prestwick are at home to Kelburne in the semi-finals of the McCulloch Cup with winners facing Clydesdale in the final.