Glenpark XI fail dismally in the sunshine

Glenpark XI vs The Tryst
WDCU Championship Three
Saturday 10th June 2023

 Scorecard       

After last week's well-earned success, it was all the more disappointing that Glenpark produced their worst performance of the season in front of home support this Saturday.

Putting The Tryst in to bat, things couldn't have started better with a wicket maiden to Dave Sharma; completing a caught and bowled with the last ball of the over. His usual opening partner, Asad Farooq, almost had similar success, but a thin edge didn't go to hand in his first over. It wasn't long after, however, that his turn came as Jack Hutchinson took a hard hit catch, leaving the visitors two down with only one run on the board.

Unfortunately, this early success couldn't be taken advantage of as partnerships started to be built, once again the bowlers releasing pressure with wayward bowling. Dave, again playing injured, bowled economically, but couldn't find a way through. There was some brief hope of restricting the target with Hamid Safi forcing a catch to Peter Robertson behind the stumps with his first ball, and Muhib Ahmadzai having a successful LBW appeal, but that soon disappeared.

Having preserved their wickets, the fifth wicket pair for Stenhousemuir seconds were able to open their shoulders and score at a good rate. It may have been different had Glenpark held their catches, but in the end The Tryst was allowed to amass a big total of 196-5, Eddie Ahmad getting a consolation wicket in the final over, the catch completed by Hamid.

The target was always going to be a challenge for a weakened batting team, but the degree of the capitulation was still a surprise. Perhaps it could be seen that it wasn't going to be Glenpark's day when Asad played a fine sweep shot straight into the hands of backward square leg for the first downfall. From there on in it was a steady stream of wickets, with it being the home team's turn for no player to reach double figures.

It is hard to take any positives out of this devastating defeat. Glenpark fielded with enthusiasm in spite of the heat, and the batters didn't give up their wickets to bad shots; the final result perhaps not accurately reflecting the difference between the teams. It was, however, a game that probably needed to be won to mount any challenge for promotion. Hopefully the team can re-group for the next match and enter the second half of the season positively.

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