Weather stumps cricket start but County fail to perform as they slump to an innings defeat

Jun 25 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian County Cricket Association had a double header of league and cup matches at Boghall last weekend.

County 2nd and 3rd XIs played their league matches on Saturday in the East League Divisions.

County 1st XI hosted league leaders Falkland 1st XI at Boghall in the SNCL 2nd Division match.

Match day sponsorship was provided by the Conquistadors.

After the start was delayed because of rain and a further break for 42 minutes the match was reduced to 33 overs per team.

County were asked to bat first and scored 106 for 9.

After 12 overs County had been reduced to 40 for 7 by the bowling and catching of two Falkland families — the Watsons and Hepburns.

County made a bit of a fight of it with a partnership of 50 between Feraz Asghar and captain Andy Raven, which took the score along to 90 for 8.

Another 16 runs were added by Andy Raven and Fahad Ahmed to take the score to 106 for 9 after 33 overs. Double figure scorers for County were Feraz Asghar 27 not out, Kruger Van Wyk 16 and Andy Raven 12.

After tea, under the Duckworth/Lewis calculations, Falkland were set a target of 93 to win off 33 overs.

Falkland only took 22 overs to score 95 for 1, with G Watson 39 not out and M Cachia 38 not out. Falkland won the match by nine wickets and were awarded eight points for the win and two bonus points because they scored the runs quickly.

County 3rd XI hosted Dunbar at Beeslack High school playing fields at Penicuik in the East League Division 7 Match.

Dunbar batted first and scored 133 all out from 45 overs.

Iain Snedden, the young County wicketkeeper in just his second match of the season, performed three stumpings and held one catch. Michael Miller 3 for 17, Bruce Dixon 2 for 20 and Alistair Napoli 2 for 29.

After tea County scored 134 for 3 in 34 overs, with John Miller 50 not out and Mukhtar Ahmed 32 not out.

County won the match by seven wickets and collect 20 points.

On Sunday afternoon it was Scottish Cup 1st round day and County 1st XI hosted SNCL Premier Division team West of Scotland 1st XI at Boghall.

West of Scotland batted first scoring 264 all out in 50 overs. At the drinks interval at 25 overs West had reached 142 for 2, going at this rate it looked like the score was going to be above 300.

County managed to apply the brakes and the innings closed on 264.

Top scorers for West were A Ellis 55, I Young 39, D Lockhart 38, C Tulloch 24 and D McCall 24. For County Kruger Van Wyk took 2 for 36, Corne Van Wyk 2 for 39 and Grant Raven 1 for 19.

David Fleming now in his mid-forties is still able to catch the catches as the team wicketkeeper and held on to three catches.

George Heath also held a catch. Kruger Van Wyk and David Drylie each hit the stumps to run out two batsmen.

After tea County batted and scored 195 for 9 in their 50 overs. The star batsmen for County was veteran David “Babes” Fleming who came in at 72 for 4 and carried his bat through to the innings end with 59 not out including four fours and two huge hits for sixes.

Other double figure scorers for County were Kruger Van Wyk 27, Corne Van Wyk 23, Fahad Ahmed 17, Andy Raven 14 not out and David Drylie 11.

The two best bowlers for West were C Tulloch 3 for 22 and A Ellis 2 for 18. West wicketkeeper D Lockhart gave a good performance behind the wicket with two catches and one stumping.

West won the match by 69 runs and now have a home draw in round two on July 12 against Ayr at Hamilton Crescent. County lost the match but it was played in a very sporting atmosphere, then both teams retired to the bar to reflect on the match.

Also on Sunday afternoon County Sunday XI travelled to Prestonpans to play Preston Village Friendly XI in a 40 over per team match at the Polwarth Oval. County batted first scoring 170 all out in 38 overs, with Pat Bennie 32, Donald Bennie 21 and Gus McNab 17.

After tea Preston Village batted and scored 137 all out in 36 overs with S Dixie 37.

Jordan Hamilton took four for 13, Pat Bennie two for 15 and Gus McNab two for 28. County won the match by 33 runs.