T20 cricket day beats the wet weather

Cricket made a welcome return to Glenpark on Sunday as the T20 Cricket Day involving teams from Innellan, Kilmacolm and Greenock enjoyed a fun day of cricket. Starting at 11am with the match between Greenock and Kilmacolm, the play, which went on throughout the day, delighted a good crowd of supporters who turned up for the event.

In the opening game Greenock were put into bat, and with 45 from Mark Robertson and 30 from Chris Hempsey, Greenock put together a decent total of 132 for 6. However, Kilmacolm managed to overtake the home team total in the 20th over thanks to a very fine 72 not out from opening bat John Higgins and with able assistance from number 4 batsman Calum Craig 36 not out.

In the second game Kilmacolm took to the field once again this time to play Innellan. Higgins continued his fine form scoring 43 before being dismissed. Hammond 37 and Reid 20 helped take the Villagers to 141 before they were all out on the very last ball of their innings. Facing this quite formidable total, the lengthy journey across the Clyde seemed to have taken its toll, as the Argyllshire side’s batsmen were all at sea in the reply and could muster just 83 before the rescue boat brought them ashore.

In the final game of the day, hosts Greenock played Innellan. Due to a short weather interruption earlier in the afternoon, the match was reduced to just 14 overs per side and Innellan scored just under 50 runs from their innings. Greenock pro Mpho Sekhoto was given the chance to have a bat due to his lack of batting opportunities recently, but was given a “red card” when he hit one of the Innellan bowlers over the clubhouse and out of the ground .....for the second time !!! Euan Stewart and Kieran Wylie, two of Greenock’s under 15 players saw the side home with some overs to spare.

Kilmacolm with two wins were the winners of the T20 Day.

Gordon McKissock, of Innellan CC, presented Greenock with a specially commissioned trophy to mark the Club’s 150th Anniversary Season.

All three teams would like to thank local company CICS Ltd for sponsoring the T20 Day, umpires Jim Murphy and John Kirk, and Jim and Alex Lepick for excellent catering throughout the day and also barbecue at the conclusion of play.