Senior cricket teams bat their way to success

Stirling County’s cricketers had a successful Saturday with all three senior teams winning in their respective league matches.

The County XI travelled to Dumfries to meet Queensberry St Michael’s in their latest Western Union First Division match and returned home with a comprehensive 141run victory under the belts.

Stirling batted first and three players made half-centuries - Matthew Tweedie (82), Andy Carswell (75) and Anton Ehlers (59) as they racked up 328 for six in 50 overs. The home side were never really in contention and despite 54 not out from A Rehman, three wickets for Stirling skipper Gavin Anderson helped County to bowl out their opponents for 187.

Recent matchball sponsors include Sandy Bryce, Iain McCulloch c/o Mailers and Alex Ritchie.

On Sunday, Stirling’s hold on the Western Union 40 Cup ended in defeat at home to Uddingston.

The visitors batted first and made 198 for two in a rain-reduced match of 33 over-a-side with Gowtham Rai scoring 75.

Andy Carswell hit 42 and Anton Ehlers a quick-fire 31 but County were all out for 168 with two overs left.

This weekend County are on their travels again when they visit Irvine.

At New Williamfield in the reverse fixture against St Michael’s 2nds, Donald Morton was the unlikely bowling hero for County’s 2nd XI.

With the side short in bowling, the veteran was thrown the ball - and 12 overs later, he had taken four wickets for 42 and St Michael’s were eight wickets down and staring defeat in the face.

The Dumfries side fought hard, though and were only 21 runs short of Stirling’s total when Donald’s son Alasdair had a direct hit run-out and two balls later the game was all over when the last man was bowled.

Earlier Jacob Withers hit 49, John Howell 25, Aravind Karamuthu 21 and Donald Morton 20 as Stirling scored 211 all out. Karamuthu also took three for 23 in the St Michael’s innings.

Stirling 3rds made it three wins out of three for the club with a 78-run East League Division 5 win over Edinburgh Accies 2nds.

Alex Campbell scored an unbeaten 105, Chris Geddes hit 65 and Euan MacGarvie made 51 in Stirling’s total of 261 for five and although Accies threw the bat at everything, two wickets for Sean Ferrie and two for Vamsi Machana helped reduce them to 183 all out..