Busy weekend ahead for cricketers
Stirling County make the long trip to Dumfries on Saturday knowing a win could seal their promotion from Western Union First Division.
Victory on Saturday over third-placed Renfrew in their first match in four weeks virtually ended any hopes the Deanpark club had of going up alongside West of Scotland.
Now on Saturday, a win for Stirling over St Michaels in Dumfries, allied to defeats for Irvine and Renfrew would almost certainly clinch the move into the Premier League.
On a tough wicket at Renfrew, Stirling batted first and thanks to a 95-run partnership between skipper Matthew Tweedie and Gavin Anderson they reached 176 for five off 46 overs. Tweedie scored 46 and Anderson 45.
For Renfrew, only opener Alam with 55 and Baig with 27 held up County’s march to the win and when their innings was over, they were still short on 138 for nine.
Ian Shaw took four for 37 and Ali Mubarak two for eight as County consolidated their second-spot behind promoted West of Scotland.
On Saturday, County visit St Michaels and on Sunday they travel to Paisley to meet Kelburne in the Western Union Cup semi-final.
Recent matchball sponsors Olly Morton, Les Sutton, Bill Wheeler, Ian MacDonald, Neil Bielby and Robin Lang.
● Alasdair Morton was the unlikely hero for Stirling 2nds in their high-scoring win over league leaders Renfrew 2nds on Saturday at New Williamfield.
On a pitch which had seen Stirling rack up 300 for four in 50 overs, Alasdair - who has just recently been bowling in matches - took four for 47 including a hat-trick, the second hat-trick at Stirling this summer following john Templeton’s effort back in April.
In a fiesty match, County batted first and thanks to 85 from Ian Wilkinson, 81 from Chris Geddes and 39 from Grant Bradburn, they reached 300 off the final ball of their innings.
It was always going to be a tall order as skipper Bradburn alternated his bowlers and Alasdair’s four-wicket haul - alongside two wickets apiece for Stephen Nolan and Jacques Grosvenor - saw Renfrew fall short on 254 all out.
On Saturday the 2nds are at home to St Michaels 2nds, This match will be at Doune if the ICC Women’s World T20 qualifiers goes into Saturday’s reserve day.
●Stirling’s Sunday XI lost to Doune in a Strathmore and Perthshire Development League fixtures at the Grazings by 14 runs.
Jamie Corsar scored an unbeaten 103 for the home side in their tally of 205 for four and in reply Graeme Taylor and Rukman Hewage scored half-centuries for Stirling.
Ten year-old Ollie Jones made 23 not out as they ended on 191 for six.