Glenpark XI lose opening league game at Dumfries
Nunholm XI v Glenpark XI
CSL Western Premier Reserve League
Saturday 12th May
Although boosted by their Western Cup win last weekend, there remained concerns as to how Glenpark’s team would fare against stronger opposition. These concerns were proven valid against Nunholm on Saturday. To demonstrate the difficulties Greenock are facing this year there were only 22 players from the squad available for the weekend’s Dumfries matches – an easy day for the selectors!
Glenpark were asked to field first and got off to a good start with a run out in the second over as openers Dave Sharma and Neil Flack bowled tightly. Dave had a couple of successes and, when Sachin Mundon got a wicket with his first legitimate ball for the team (courtesy of Brian Roberts’ second catch) the match was looking competitive with Nunholm on 77-4. It was then, however, that the lack of depth in the bowling became evident. With no penetration and the batsmen punishing the frequent bad ball a 5th wicket partnership of 184 took the game away. Only wily Peter Robertson demonstrated a degree of control, though centurion Patterson did survive a sharp stumping attempt by Chris Hempsey that certainly would have merited a third umpire review! Nunholm ended on a daunting 269, a target made even more difficult by the unfortunate recurrence of an injury to Peter Robertson that would prevent him from batting.
Neil Flack took on his second opening role of the day, this time partnered by Brian Roberts. They got off to a steady start until Neil mistimed a drive and was caught. Partnerships were started with Peter Hempsey, Chris Hempsey and Jack Bushfield, but none sustained and the required run-rate continued to rise. There was a glimpse of hope when Dave Sharma joined Chris and the pair put on 73 in ten overs, including Dave taking twenty off one over, but with the rate needed now at ten-an-over Dave perished going for a big hit. After that the team capitulated, though new skipper Chris did complete a fine half-century.
There’s another tough test at Glenpark next week against Cambusdoon and we shall see how the team bounces back from this. In their favour it was noticeable how Chris kept spirits high and the players gave maximum effort – hopefully this will translate to better performances in the future.
The mix of young and old did give rise to an interesting calculation in the minibus on the way home: the three veterans sitting in the front had an aggregate age of 162, the rest of the bus added up to 161!
Nunholm XI (12 pts) 269 for 5 (50 overs) J Patterson 110*, C McCutcheon 86
Glenpark XI (4 pts) 168 (42 overs) CJK Hempsey 50, DC Sharma 43, J Patterson 3 for 8
Nunholm XI won by 101 runs
Glenpark XI Man of the Match: Dave Sharma (sorry Chris, it was a fine 50, but my two wickets and catch pip you – if only you had taken a stumping!)
Scooby Award: Kieran Wylie - when looking to enter today’s destination into his sat nav he asked for Dunfermline!
'The Snake'
