Greenock return to league business with long trip to Dumfries

The second half of the Cricket Scotland League (CSL) Western Premier Division begins on Saturday and Greenock face the long trip to Dumfries to play a side which is flying high and having a very good season in both league and cup competitions. The Glenpark side will need to be at their best in order to bring home a winning result.

When the two sides met earlier this season at Glenpark in May, it was the APD Dumfries side which came out on top, winning by over one hundred runs. Greenock will be keen to show that they can play much better than on that occasion and, in particular, that their batting can be more potent.

However, yet again internationalist Richie Berrington will be missing from the Greenock line-up due to the Scottish Saltires having a CB40 match in England on Sunday against Nottingham at Trent Bridge. His absence is a significant loss to the side not just for the runs which he might score but also for his bowling and fielding abilities.

Also out for the second successive Saturday is opening bat Shailesh Prabhu, which means a re-think for Greenock captain Ryan Begley in terms of the opening batting partnership which he should choose for this important match. Alex Baum has been filling one position at the top of the order, and he and Prabhu had begun to develop a good looking partnership together before the cancellations of matches due to rain, and holidays, interrupted the positive cricket they had begun to play.

Nunholm, APD Dumfries’ home ground, is one of the nicest cricket grounds in Scotland and is usually a favourable batting surface. Greenock have had difficulty batting through fifty overs this season but must endeavour to do so on Saturday. Good shots get value for money on the very well kept outfield at Nunholm and if the batters can concentrate and keep their discipline then a good score should be able to be achieved.

South African professional Mpho Sekhoto looked as though he was getting into his stride last Saturday against Falkland and had played some very fine shots, including seven boundaries, until on 32 he mis-timed a drive and was caught at point. His dismissal was an opportunity lost for a big score, and he will want to push on this Saturday at Dumfries to show that he can occupy the crease and compile a very sizeable innings. Should he do so, then Greenock will most certainly be able to give the APD Dumfries side a very good game.

Back into the Greenock team for the trip to Dumfries on Saturday is opening bowler Waleed Jamal. His pace has troubled numerous batsmen this season and he has taken wickets in every game he has played, so his return after missing last Saturday’s Scottish Cup match is a welcome boost. Jamal is also capable of scoring runs and indeed he hit an impressive 58 against Ferguslie at Meikleriggs last weekend in a Sunday League match.

CSL Western Premier Division Table

APD Dumfries have a side with considerable talent. Opening the batting for the Nunholm team will be Chris Bellwood who played at Glenpark in seasons 2010 and 2011. In the CSL match between Greenock and APD Dumfries in May, Bellwood failed to trouble the scorers when Waleed Jamal had him caught in just the second over of play, but the following two matches saw him score 99 against Clydesdale and 52 against Stirling County.

Other useful batsmen in the APD Dumfries side include Josh Geary and Joseph Clarke, two Australians who have been regularly in the runs in matches played. Indeed Geary hit a very fine 130 against Ayr at Cambusdoon in early June.

Heading up the APD Dumfries bowling attack will be Alan Davidson and Patrick Druce. Both bowlers had success against Greenock at Glenpark in May and will be hoping to repeat their bowling performance on Saturday. Scott Beveridge too will be likely to bowl as will Joseph Clarke and possibly Chris Bellwood.

Although it is now six weeks since APD Dumfries last played on a Saturday, Greenock can expect their opponents to be ready for this game and all players will need to give of their best to get a result.

The Glenpark XI play Nunholm (the Dumfries 2nd XI) at Glenpark on Saturday in a CSL Reserve League match, the game starting at 1pm. No team details are as yet available and yet again it would appear that the team will be greatly reduced in strength due to the 1st XI absences and players on holiday.

Sunday sees the annual McDougall Trophy match between an Hillend XI and a Greenock Select. The match should start at 2pm and should be an enjoyable encounter, although the weather forecast is not at all promising for Sunday. Now there's a surprise!