Greenock's bowlers well on top
Greenock 1st XI 176 for 9 Ayr 46 scorecard
What a difference a week makes! Last Saturday, Greenock and their supporters revelled in the delights of a record-breaking total on the way to victory over rivals Uddingston. This week, on the same pitch, they struggled to make half that total and were indebted to a decisive spell of bowling to record another victory.
And yet it all started so well as Craig Wright won yet another toss and elected to bat. But it quickly became apparent that matters would not be so simple this time around. The Ayr opening attack of Horne and Baird may not be the quickest one around but they know where to put the ball and it was no different this time. They bowled their 10 overs each right through, with Horne conceding only 14 runs in his spell whilst Baird took one wicket, and a key one of Tim McIntosh at that, for just 27. By the end of these twenty overs, not only McIntosh but also Sean Weeraratna had fallen, the latter run out after a dreadful mix-up.
Fortunately for Greenock, the Ayr back-up bowling was not quite at the same level and after Harry Byrnes Howe had been adjudged leg before for 6, Richie Berrington and Craig Wright sought to get the innings back on track. Richie found the bowling a good deal more difficult to dominate this week but he fought hard and with his skipper he brought up the three figures before both fell in quick succession. Actually, it was not that quick as after Berrington had been caught off the bowling of McElnea, the players were driven from the ground by a heavy shower and it was decided to take an early tea. The first ball after the resumption saw Wright caught behind and this was followed by three more quick wickets as Prabhu, Brown and Nel all fell cheaply to leave Greenock tottering at 133 for 8. Juddy and Jonathan Hempsey now joined forces and together they put on a very valuable 35 runs for the ninth wicket, batting sensibly with good defence and always looking to take runs when the opportunity occurred. Hempsey, who is a most improved young cricketer, was eventually bowled for 17 and it was left to Juddy with 22 not out to steer the total to 176 for 9 at the end of the allotted 50 overs.
Ayr made a brisk start in response, taking 8 off Nel's first over but it all went quickly downhill after that. In Nel's second over, he produced a terrific delivery to bowl the Ayr professional, Horne, McElnea was run out after good work by Keiran Begley and then Craig Wright struck with 4 victims to reduce Ayr to 20 for 6. Neil McCrossin went leg before, his brother Colin was bowled for 2, Phil Wilson edged behind and Shaz Rafiq was also bowled as the skipper took 4 for 15 in his ten overs. Tim McIntosh then took over to have first Smith lbw and then Mitchell caught in the slips by Weeraratna and it was now 27 for 8. It was very much a case of getting 20 overs bowled to ensure a result by the Duckworth/Lewis method as the rain was now falling and looking like it was not going to go off.
Mark Renny had come in at three and whilst all around him were losing their heads, he was keeping calm. Young Calum Leck lent him some support for a while but eventually with the score on 39, he edged McIntosh to Harry Byrnes Howe and after a few more runs from Renny and Baird, Sean Weeraratna claimed the all-important 10th wicket, Baird also being caught behind. Ayr and the rains had both been beaten and Greenock had claimed another vital win. Renny was left undefeated on 24 and without his efforts, one wonders just how many runs Ayr would have scored.
It is always satisfying to win a match when not playing at one's best and this match was no exception. The team fought back from a difficult start, with contributions all round and when the questions were asked in the second half, it was Greenock and their bowlers, not to mention the fielders, who had the answers. At the halfway stage of the season, Greenock now hold a five point lead over Grange, who beat Ferguslie at the weekend via Duckworth/Lewis and it is the Paisley team who are the next visitors to Glenpark this coming Saturday. More of the same from Greenock will suit their supporters just fine.