1st XI at Stirling in key match for both sides

The 1st XI find themselves back on the road once again this weekend with a trip to play Stirling County at their New Williamfield ground. And although it is just round five of the eighteen week Western Premiership Two league programme, this match takes on a real significance for them.

After the first four league fixtures of the season, the side have just one win to their credit and sit in third bottom position. The team need to target at least three more wins before the half way mark of the league programme.

The fixture list has given the team a difficult start to the league season with three out of the first four matches played against the current top three teams. And only one out of these four matches has offered Greenock home advantage.

So, the trip to Stirling is a very important one. A win could see the Club climb a few places in the league table and ease the pressure of being close to the bottom. But a loss would put the team firmly in the relegation zone.

Stirling County have fared only a little better than the 1st XI. The Stirlingshire side have won two out of their four fixtures and lie in a mid-table position. They have won against the bottom two teams, Mearns and Hillhead, but have yet to play against any of the top three teams Uddingston, Dumfries and Langside.

Last Saturday, County lost heavily to Helensburgh who had been occupying second bottom position before the match. Helensburgh batted first and amassed 228 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets. In reply, County were bowled out for just 116 runs. And against fourth placed Kilmarnock two weeks before that the result was almost a mirror image. Killie scored 235 and County were all out for 115.

But in between those two heavy defeats, County outplayed second bottom Hillhead. The Glasgow side were bowled out for 73 after 27.3 overs and Stirling took just 11.2 overs to score 74 runs with loss of two wickets to win easily.

The similarities in league performances between the 1st XI and Stirling suggest that it may come down to which of the sides can bat the better. Both sides seem to have difficulty in batting through their 50 over allocation. Stirling's longest innings was last Saturday against Helensburgh when they lasted 34 overs while the 1st XI batted for 37 overs against Langside.

The 1st XI know that a good all-round performance is needed on Saturday, and, if batting first, then the team must use up all of the fifty overs available. That means getting the innings off to a sound start and ensuring good partnerships are built during the innings.

Aussie amateurs Adam McGuirk and Toby Matthews will shoulder much of the responsibility, but others must provide support and work hard to remain out in the middle for as long as possible contributing runs as they do so.

Experienced players such as Nikhil Kadyan and Shailesh Prabhu will be two such players. They have the skills and ability to play a lengthy innings and score well. And coming into the side this weekend is Jack Matthews, brother of Toby. He is a useful cricketer and could make an important contribution on Saturday.

The bowling attack and fielding must also come good against County. A focussed, accurate bowling performance with few extras given away to the opposition must be a key target while in the field. And when catching chances do occur they must be taken. Catches win matches.

It is not quite win or bust for the 1st XI, but a win over County would certainly be a positive outcome and give encouragement for further good performances in the matches leading up to the halfway mark in the league season.

The 1st XI's selection for the game shows three changes from last Saturday's team with Jack Matthews, Shailesh Prabhu and PJ Bryceland replacing Mansoor, Thapa and Eddie Ahmad.

The Glenpark XI welcome Stenhousemuir's reserve side, The Tryst, to Glenpark on Saturday, looking for their first win of the season. Last Saturday, the unavailability of a large number of players meant that the fixture against Meikleriggs had to be conceded but this is not expected to be an issue this week.

In midweek, the team lost by just 2 runs in a Western Cup sectional match against Kelburne's Whitehaugh XI at Glenpark. Batting first Whitehaugh scored 120 for the loss of 9 wickets and in reply the Glenpark XI came up tantalisingly short, scoring 118 for the loss of 9 wickets.

Sunday sees the first fixture of the season for a new venture for the Club, with a Senior XI taking on Stenhousemuir Seniors in Senior League match at Glenpark. There are likely to be some sore bodies on Monday morning after the game.

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