STIR FRIED

Ferguslie open new season with tasty win over crushed County

Ferguslie made a winning start to their Western Premiership One campaign on Saturday after thrashing Stirling County by 117 runs.

On their freshly re-laid pitch which was seeing action for the first time at Meikleriggs, the Paisley side dominated with both bat and ball.

The home side batted first and, after the early loss of stand-in captain Taimoor Ahmed, took the attack to Stirling in some style as opener David Stafford and Bahadar Esakhiel found their feet.

Esakhiel, in particular, hit out in destructive style – two massive sixes actually landing in the neighbouring hospital car park.

They completed a partnership of 49 before Stafford was out but Uzair Ahmed (28) continued the process with a highlyentertaining knock which also included boundary-clearing blows into the main road.

Both batsmen were out in quick succession as the score topped three figures but, once again, the good early work was carried on as Mekyle Pillay (47) and Adam Tahir (23) kept the scoreboard ticking over as they put on 60.

However, at 167 for five, the bottom fell out of the innings a little. Three wickets fell at 201 without a run being added to the total with the innings finishing on 211 – a fair score but not unbeatable.

Stirling toiled early with the bat as both the returning Adil Ghaffar and professional Pillay claimed early victims by the time their score had reached 11.

The visitors managed a partial recovery and took their score onto 32 without further damage but a scintillating spell of bowling by Aliyan Qureshi, making his first appearance for Ferguslie in two years, saw him rip out the middle of the batting order to reduce them to 54 for five.

It didn’t get any better for them thereafter as another Ferguslie returnee, Hamid Mahmood, came on to wreak havoc upon the remaining tail – taking four of the five wickets to fall – and help bowl Stirling out for a paltry 94.

On Sunday, Ferguslie were again the hosts in the first round of the Scottish Cup against Falkland but this time the weather was the winner as the home side suffered their fourth rain postponement in six scheduled matches.

Heavy overnight rain caused the ground to be too soft to permit safe play after a three-hour delay. The tie will now be played on Sunday, May 19 in Falkland.

Meanwhile, the LMSD Meikleriggs side suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Partick in Western Championship One on Saturday and are back in action next this weekend when they have home matches against Albert Park – with the match ball sponsored by Paul Andrew, a former player now residing in Boston, United States – followed by a local derby against Dean Park; match ball sponsored by Bill & Margaret Elliot.

The first XI make the short trip to West of Scotland who finished ahead of Ferguslie in last year’s Western District Cricket Union Championship.

■All pictures courtesy of Bill Wilson

Arthurlie have piled the pressure on Glenafton Athletic in the battle to beat the dreaded drop.

Colin Reilly’s men beat Hurlford United 2-1 at Dunterlie on Wednesday night with Tam McGaughey and Scott Anson on target.

Arthurlie remain in fight for survival after picking up victory

Goals from Dylan Fletcher and Mark Docherty had previously earned‘Lie a 2-1 win at Hurlford on Saturday.

The Barrhead men moved to within a point of safety in the West of Scotland League

Premier Division. Glenafton, who do have a game in hand, will be feeling the heat ahead of their derby clash tonight with Cumnock.

A win will see them safe but anything less opens the door for‘Lie who could climb out of the relegation zone with victory at home to champions Beith in their final league game tomorrow afternoon.

Glens wrap up their fixtures next Wednesday night at home to Darvel.