Another important double-header weekend at Glenpark

The 1st XI enter the final third of the Western Premiership Two league season with a match against second bottom side Irvine at Glenpark on Saturday. And on Sunday, they play host to Strathmore in the semi-final of the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup, also at Glenpark.

Irvine, their league opponents, have managed to complete nine matches during the season to date, but have won only twice. In early June, bottom side Helensburgh were beaten in a well contested match at Irvine's home ground, Marress. And a second success was achieved at New Anniesland at the end of June, when Glasgow Accies were beaten by a four wicket margin in a fairly low scoring encounter.

However, apart from those two wins, it has been a dismal season for the men from Marress. Heavy defeats have twice been inflicted by each of West of Scotland, Stirling County and East Kilbride, with the other loss coming from Ayrshire rivals Kilmarnock.

The league fixture between the 1st XI and Irvine earlier in the season was one of a number of matches that the team had cancelled due to wet weather, and so Saturday's meeting of the two clubs is their first of the season.

The 1st XI will enter the match on Saturday as favourites and if the team performs well the 25 match points should be won by the Glenpark men. But out from last Saturday's side are team captain Aryan Sanghera and his dad Sam due to a family celebration.

Last Saturday at Hamilton Crescent, the team made a great start to the match against second top team, West of Scotland. The opening pace attack of Cammy Calder and Fahimgul Dinarkheil accounted for West's four top order batsmen within the first thirteen overs and with under forty runs showing on the scoreboard. These wickets included Zimbabwean Pro Larbet Masunda and former English minor counties batsman Joe Carrasco.

An opening bowling burst like that against Irvine could have the visiting batting line-up in major trouble and the team will be keen to drive home any advantage which can be achieved.

Supporting Calder and Dinarkheil, the selected team can call on Nikhil Kadyan, Chirag Pandher, Mu Ahmadzai and Greg McDougall who between them offer a variety of bowling options.

The stop-start nature of the season due to the wet weather encountered through June and July has made it difficult for batsmen to build consistency. But the team's Aussie amateur, Cal Henry, has managed better than most. He has scored 403 league runs and is averaging 134 in league matches, with three unbeaten centuries to his credit. Henry's most recent century was scored just two weeks ago, 111 not out against Glasgow Accies, and he will be eager to keep his high scoring form going against Irvine.

On Sunday, for the Challenge Cup semi-final, the 1st XI welcome to Glenpark Strathmore CC who won the trophy in 2019. The Forfar side play in the North East Scotland cricket league and currently occupy fourth top position behind Huntly, Freuchie and Aberdeenshire.

This is the Club's first cup semi-final since 2011 and the team and supporters are hoping to win through to the final which is scheduled to take place at Stenhousemuir's ground on Sunday 17 August.

The team for Sunday shows three changes to the side that will play Irvine the day before. Unavailable are Greg McDougall and Shailesh Prabhu, while Usman Mansoor will play for the Glenpark XI in a key league match against Mearns Challengers in Glasgow. Into the side come Kurukulasuriya Leema, Sam Sanghera and, making a welcome return to the 1st XI colours, past-captain Jonathan Hempsey.

Vice-captain Cammy Calder steps up as team captain for the second time in the weekend due to Aryan Sanghera's absence. He will have a number of seasoned and experienced teammates with whom he will be able to consult during the match and he will be very keen to lead the team through to the Challenge Cup final.

While the 1st XI are playing for a place in the CS Challenge Cup Final on Sunday, the Glenpark XI team travel to play Mearns Challengers in Glasgow the same afternoon for what is a meeting of the two top sides in the Western Championship Three league.

With just a few weeks of the season remaining, and both teams well ahead of other sides in the table, the match could well be a league decider. There are just five percentage points separating the two teams and a win for Glenpark would take the side to the top.

The team has been in good scoring run-scoring form this season. Usman Mansoor is the top run-scorer and last Saturday against Ardrossan he scored a fine 56 before the match was abandoned due to rain. Also regularly doing well with the bat are team captain Eddie Ahmad and Mohammad Zeeshan.

Mearns Challengers will provide a stiff test for the team and the selected players will need to bring their best form if a win is to be achieved on Sunday afternoon.

The Club is grateful for the continued sponsorship from Cleaning Supplies 4U.