Greenock's batting failure leads to Kelburne defeat

Greenock 1st XI vs Kelburne
WDCU CSL Premier Division
Saturday 22nd July 2017

Scorecard       

Greenock suffered a very disappointing defeat on Saturday when they lost to bottom of the table team Kelburne. The loss throws the local side very firmly into a relegation battle with second bottom side East Kilbride with just five matches remaining in this season's Premier Division.

But it was not just the loss, but the manner of loss, which was particularly disappointing. Greenock were bowled out for a paltry 59 runs in just 31.5 overs. One of their lowest league scores in many years.

The toss was all important on a day when some late morning rain delayed the start of the match and when further rain was forecast. Kelburne called correctly and without hesitation inserted Greenock.

Just seven overs into the innings and Greenock were in significant early trouble with Neil Flack, Kyle Scrimegour and Harry Briggs all dismissed and only ten runs on the scoreboard. Worse was to follow as a further four wickets tumbled in the next seven overs leaving Greenock stunned on 26 for 7 wickets.

A partnership between Shailesh Prabhu and Jonathan Hempsey then began to develop and it looked as though it might save Greenock's blushes but with the total having moved along to 43, Hempsey was adjudged LBW.

Shailesh Prabhu was the only Greenock batsman who seemed to be having little trouble with the visitors' bowling and Greenock's hopes of getting out of the mire lay with him. But on an afternoon when Greenock's batting performance could only be described as calamitous, Prabhu's wicket just continued the pattern already set. He was run out for 16 with the score on 56 when there appeared to be no danger as he took a single, but then failed to make his ground as a throw from Elliott Rousen hit the stumps direct.

Just three more runs were added before the Glenparkers last wicket fell and the innings ended on the meagre total of 59.

Kelburne's two opening bowlers, Steven McLister and Jamie MacDonald were the main architects of Greenock's downfall capturing seven wickets between them, with Dougie Wylie picking up two wickets at the end of the innings. McLister took 3 wickets for 24 runs from 10 overs and MacDonald 4 for 16 from 10 overs with Wylie taking 2 for 4 from 5.5 overs.

Needing just 60 runs to win, Kelburne looked to have a straightforward task to win. But that was not to be the case.

Greenock came out after the tea interval intent on getting back some credibility after their dismal batting performance. But nine runs off the first two overs suggested Kelburne were going to make short work of getting to their 'easy' target. Wrong!

South African professional Bradley Joynt edged a ball from Julien Hulbert in the third over and was caught by wicketkeeper Chris Hempsey. Then Elliot Roussen was LBW to Kyle Scrimegour to put Kelburne on 19 for the loss of two wickets.

Just two more runs were added when the game became very interesting, as firstly Jak McConnell was dismissed LBW to Scrimegour and then Ryan Morrow was caught by Hulbert off the bowling of Neil Flack. 21 for 4.

When two further wickets were captured by Scrimegour with the Kelburne score having only moved along to 30, Greenock scented a possible 'miracle' victory. But it was not to be. Former Scotland cap Omer Hussain and former Greenock favourite Dougie Wylie used their experience to guide the visitors inexorably to the winning line and after just twenty two overs it was indeed all over. Hussain was not out 22 and Wylie unbeaten on 8.

Kyle Scrimegour, who took 4 wickets for 14 runs in his 10 overs, was Greenock's most successful bowler.

A Glenpark supporter summed up Greenock's afternoon, "It was a magnificent bowling effort after a poor batting performance".

The match was kindly sponsored by The Petshop Postie.