Fraser Colson makes an instant impact

Greenock 1st XI vs Renfrew
Scottish Cup
Saturday 27th April 2013

Scorecard       

Greenock recorded a comfortable Scottish Cup sectional win over newly promoted CSL Premier Division side Renfrew in a reduced overs match at Glenpark on Saturday. It was Greenock’s first competitive win of the 2013 season and came virtue of a fine overall team performance which bodes well for the weeks ahead

A wet week and then some overnight rain ensured that, despite the efforts of groundsman Roger Hardie, some delay to play would be likely. However, due to the umpires being unable to agree, the delay extended to four hours and it was not until just after 4pm that a 26 overs a side match got under way. It was a great pity that with both sides keen to get started much earlier, and a good number of spectators in attendance, the opinion of just one person should have led to the loss of so much play.

Tom Batters

Greenock gained an early advantage when Renfrew captain Sai Majeed lost the toss and the visitors were invited to bat. The opening pace attack of Waleed Jamal and Australian overseas player Tom Batters provided the Renfrew top order with a fiery first few overs and in just the seventh over Jamal had the centre stump cartwheeling out of the ground as he clean bowled the visitors Pakistani professional Ahmed Said for 15 with 23 runs on the board.

Just four overs later Greg McDougall claimed the first of his three victims when he clean bowled Ryan Murray for 13 and by the mid point in the 26 over innings Renfrew had been contained to just 43 for the loss of the two opening batsmen. A third wicket went down in the fifteenth over when McDougall trapped Abdul Shakoor for just 8 runs.

Needing to up the run rate, Shahid Abbassi and Kashif Parvez then began to get Renfrew back into the game with some quick scoring, particularly from Abbassi. But with the total on 80 in the twentieth over he was bowled by Jonathan Hempsey for 23.

Parvez then took on the lead role and aided by a number of partners, ensured the result of the match would not be a foregone conclusion by plundering 54 runs in the in the final six overs of the innings. He was not out 33 from 32 balls and hit three fours and one six in his innings.

So at the end of their 26 overs Renfrew had made 134 for the loss of six wickets. Greg McDougall was Greenock’s most successful bowler of the afternoon with 3 for 35 from 7 overs, with Waleed Jamal taking 2 for 28 also from 7 overs. Although not able to get amongst the wickets in this match, Aussie Tom Batters, who had one good chance spilled, showed that he will be a potent force for the Greenock team as an opening bowling partner for Waleed Jamal.

Greenock returned to what was a regular opening partnership last season with Shailesh Prabhu and Alex Baum leading off the innings. However, with just the third ball of the very first over Baum misjudged a ball from Sai Majeed and was bowled without scoring.

Fraser Colson

Greenock’s second overseas player, New Zealand former Under-19 international Fraser Colson, joined Prabhu at the crease and these two quickly got on top of the visitors' bowling. Some fine shots from both players brought numerous boundaries and the run rate of just above six runs an over had Greenock well on course to reach their target when Majeed gained his second wicket of the afternoon bowling Prabhu for 18 in the ninth over.

Scotland Under-15 international Neil Flack came to the middle and along with Colson maintained the flow of runs. But it was Colson in particular who was dominant, showing his class with a series of beautifully timed shots. The pair put on 69 runs for the third wicket before Saqib Ali bowled Flack for 19 with the score on 122 in just the twentieth over.

Just two overs later the game was ended when Colson hit his fourth six of his innings, a massive blow clean out of the ground over the Fox Street wall, which took Greenock to 136 for the loss of just 3 wickets. In his innings of 75 not out Colson also hit five boundaries and displayed real class as he led Greenock to a very comfortable victory.

Greenock Cricket Club is grateful to acknowledge that Saturday's match was kindly sponsored by Flower Vogue.