Greenock Cricket Club

Glenpark, Brisbane Street, Greenock, PA16 8NY

Founded 1862

Glenpark XI back to winning ways

Glenpark XI v Meikleriggs XI
CSL Western First Division Reserve League
Saturday 27th July

After some recent disappointing results, Glenpark bounced back against the “auld enemy” Meikleriggs this weekend. For a change skipper Peter Hempsey had the luxury of being able to select a team rather than only having eleven (or fewer!) players available, but his decision to still entice Alan Currie out of semi-retirement proved crucial.

Winning the toss Peter elected to bat, but things did not start well as he and fellow senior Dave Sharma were removed cheaply. Juniors Harry Briggs and Niall Forrest then struggled to get runs and their dismissals left the home team struggling at 55 for 4 in the 20th over. Ben Peterson and Kevin Flack then launched the fight back putting on 56 for the next wicket before Ben failed to clear mid off and was caught. Sam Sanghera and Louis Ware scored a few, but it was the pairing of veterans Peter Robertson and Alan Currie that brought the score up to respectability. They put on 35 for the 10th wicket in a batting partnership that began over 30 years ago! The innings closed on 175 all out which, if not a challenging total, was at least competitive.

Opening the bowling Sam removed the openers cheaply; at the other end it was business as usual for Dave – bowling tidily but without success. Meikleriggs then consolidated and approaching the drinks break were in a strong position. Two events turned the game again, a direct hit run out by Sam and “Beefy” Currie coming on to bowl. Looking like he’d never been away from the game he bamboozled the batsmen (and the wicketkeeper on occasion) and worked his way through the middle order. By the end of his spell Glenpark had gained advantage for perhaps for the first time in the match, but there was still work to do as the required run rate remained low. The home team was equal to the task, the final wickets being shared by Louis, Harry and Ben. The bowlers were well supported in the field, including two stumpings and a catch to the captain and two catches to Ben, and the whole team were supported by a boisterous Glenpark crowd.

Glenpark XI (12 pts) 175 (48.4 overs) BR Peterson 41; G Darroch 4 for 37, S Khan 3 for 40

Meikleriggs XI (5 pts) 142 (41.4 overs) I Warden 34; AJ Currie 4 for 33

Glenpark XI won by 33 runs

Glenpark XI Man of the Match:  A welcome return for Alan Currie.

Scooby Award: In spite of a valiant attempt by Ben Peterson for not knowing whether or not he was under 19, the award again goes to Kieran Wylie. Concerned he might burn he was slapping on Factor 50 from a bottle he found in the dressing room. He was then told it was in fact fake tan. Convinced he was changing colour he then ran off the field without warning after 7 overs of umpiring and dived into the shower. When he later discovered it was indeed Factor 50, he then slapped it on again – in massive quantities.

scorecard

'The Snake'