No late escape this time for Glenpark XI

Glenpark XI v Hamilton

They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, and so it proved at Glenpark this weekend – but for a while there it looked as if the home team might pull off a Houdini act two weeks running.

Skipper Mark Robertson won the toss yet again (and I shall resist the urge to say what that makes him!). He put Hamilton in to bat with the prospect of a long day as the teams had agreed to play the leg-side wide rule! Openers Dave Sharma and Stuart Anderson started well and reduced the visitors to 30 for 4 after twelve overs before Dave again had to retire due to his perennial injury problems – can’t battle Father Time!

The fifth wicket partnership then threatened to take the game away as 75 runs were put on in 8 overs before Mark Robertson struck. The run rate fell, but Glenpark were still having difficulty getting wickets. Then Jeeta Singh and Toby Thomson were paired up and between them took care of the second half of the batting line up. The innings was closed on 221 in the 46th over, Chris Hempsey having a good day behind the stumps taking two catches and a stumping.

The reply started disastrously as Chris Hempsey wafted his second ball to slip. Peter Hempsey and Stuart Anderson got starts, and Hamilton bowling a remarkable number of wides to the left-handers, kept the run rate up. Chasing a target of over 200 however requires a big partnership, which the Glenpark top order failed to produce. Wickets fell and the home side was left reeling on 59 for 5.

Peter Robertson then hit some hefty blows and put on runs with last week’s hero Greg McDougall to give Glenpark hope, but there was still a lot of work to do as the next wicket fell at 97. When Greg, Kieran Begley and Jamie McDowell fell in quick succession, Jeeta Singh was joined by Dave Sharma, with Jamie as a runner, needing a last wicket partnership of 92 to win the game.

Jeeta and Dave looked to preserve their wickets and score off the bad deliveries, and this approach ate into that target. For the second week in succession the loyal supporters shouted their encouragement as the pair survived over after over and kept up with the run rate. It wasn’t to be. With just ten runs required for a remarkable victory, Jeeta edged to the keeper to end his excellent all round performance: 44 runs, 2 wickets and a fine piece of fielding that merited a crucial run out which looked out to everyone bar the visiting umpire.

It was a disappointing result, but again Glenpark showed a fighting spirit against one of the better teams in the league and should take some solace in that. Please note that this Thursday evening Glenpark face Torrance House at home in the Glasgow Cup; all support will be appreciated.

 

Hamilton (25 pts) 221 (45.4 overs) DC Thomson 3 for 32, DC Sharma 2 for 9, J Singh 2 for 30

Glenpark XI (11 pts) 212 (47.3 overs) J Singh 44, DC Sharma 33*, PE Robertson 20

Hamilton won by 9 runs

Glenpark XI Man of the Match:   Jeeta Singh

Scooby Award: Chris Hempsey– for delaying the Glenpark openers going out to bat due to the call of nature (and not a number one!)

scorecard

'The Snake'