1st XI face difficult match with Dumfries

After last weekend’s dismal weather which led to virtually every game in the west of Scotland being cancelled, the forecast seems set fair for this Saturday when Dumfries will be the visitors to Glenpark for the next game in the WDCU Premiership Two season.

Dumfries currently sit in third place in the league table, having won six out of their eight games so far although their two reverses have been against the sides immediately above them, Kilmarnock and Uddingston. They are currently slightly detached from these two sides and really need to keep on a winning run if they are to gain promotion back to Premiership One.

They will therefore pose a stern test for the 1st XI and if current form is an indicator of this then so is the fact that since 2012, when the WDCU was formed after the demise of the National League, the two teams have met on 12 occasions with the 1st XI coming out on top in just one of these matches, in 2023.

Earlier in the season, the two teams met at Dumfries’ picturesque Nunholm ground and the 1st XI were handed a comprehensive defeat by the home team, the margin of victory being 133 runs. Scotland Under-17 player, Munro Cubbon scored an impressive 99 and was backed up by ex-Greenock player Chris Bellwood with 46 in the Dumfries total of 244.

The team's reply never got off the ground and they were bowled out for just 111 with only a late flurry from Chirag Pandher with 36 enabling them to get that far. Chris Brockwell, who has always done well against Greenock, took 5 for 27 for Dumfries.

A tough task then for the 1st XI who will be led by Toby Matthews standing in for Aryan Sanghera who is currently unavailable for the next few weeks due to commitments for his university course.

The availability issues that have blighted the team all season mean that the team for Saturday is still to be confirmed. However, as well as Sanghera, definitely missing from the team are mercurial opening bowler Fahim Dinarkheil, the experienced Shailesh Prabhu and young Usman Mansoor, who has been showing signs of promise at the top of the order.

The onus for runs for the team will therefore land squarely on the shoulders of Toby Matthews and his compatriot, Adam McGuirk. If these two can get established and make sizeable scores, then there is hopefully enough runs in the rest of the team to ensure a decent total.

As far as the bowling is concerned, Matthews again will be key along with Cammy Calder, the Ahmadzai brothers and Greg McDougall.

The match will start at the usual time of 12 noon but the initial hour or so will take place against the backdrop of a professional film crew who will be at the ground from 9am onwards until around 1pm as part of the Club's British Gas Energy for Tomorrow grant and forthcoming Crowdfunder campaign.

Prior to the match, there will be a Free Try Cricket morning for children above the age of 5 which will include a whole host of fun activities for them. It is hoped to attract as many as possible to this, and to the Dumfries match as well, in order to enhance the film.

While Dumfries make the long trek north to Greenock on Saturday, the Glenpark XI will be making the journey in the opposite direction to play Nunholm, the second string of Dumfries, still looking for that elusive first win of the season.

Nunholm currently sit in 2nd position in the WDCU Championship Two table while Glenpark are marooned at the foot, having garnered just 7 points so far in what has been a very difficult season for the team, who have had to cope with significant availability issues in nearly every game.

No team news is currently available for this week’s match which will start at the later time of 1pm. The knock-on effects of the 1st XI availability problems will undoubtedly affect the strength of the team that can be fielded.

There is no cricket scheduled for Sunday as Stenhousemuir have withdrawn from the Sunday League Division 1 and therefore their game against the Hillend XI which was due to be played this Sunday has been cancelled. A pity when the weather forecast is so promising.

The Club is grateful for the continued sponsorship from Ethos Group.