Rootes ton sees Greenock into Scottish Cup quarters

Stirling County vs Greenock 1st XI
Scottish Cup
Sunday 5th June 2016

Scorecard       

Greenock's fine weekend form continued on Sunday afternoon through at New Williamfield when the team overcame Stirling County in a reasonably high scoring Scottish Cup third round match.

Stirling won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 221 runs from their allotted 50 overs. An excellent opening partnership of 98 runs from Ian Shaw (50) and Graeme Taylor (45) looked to have County well set for a very high score. But some tight bowling from Damon Rootes and Greg McDougall, in particular, kept the run scoring in check. Greenock also picked up wickets at key times with Jonathan Hempsey putting in a useful performance and gaining 3 wickets for 52 runs from his allotted 10 overs. Sharp fielding also produced three run outs.

For Stirling, overseas amateur Kevin Loggenberg from Otago in New Zealand top scored with 55 runs before being run out near the end of the home side's innings. Jack Bradburn, son of Scotland's national cricket coach, New Zealander Grant Bradburn scored 22.

The County score was probably about 40 or 50 runs short of the sort of total they had been aiming for and they paid the price when Greenock batted.

Neil Flack and Damon Rootes got Greenock off to a good start to the run chase with 56 runs scored before Flack was bowled by Aamir Samaii for 31.

Thereafter, a superb knock of 102 not out from Australian amateur Damon Rootes was the mainstay of the Greenock innings. Rootes was very well supported by 16 year old Scottish age group cap Louis Ware and the pair put on 115 runs for the third wicket before Ware was given out LBW for 48.

Greenock's excellent cup win was sealed very fittingly by Rootes as he smashed a four to the Long-on boundary which also brought up his very well deserved century.

The win takes Greenock into the quarter final of the Scottish Cup and a game against top East League side Carlton on Sunday 26 June at Glenpark.