1st XI face tough task at Kilmarnock

Following the 1st XI's convincing win over Kilmarnock at Glenpark last Sunday in the last sixteen of the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup, the two teams will meet once again this weekend. The Glenparkers will be seeking a second win in a week over their Ayrshire opponents.

The contest on Saturday will be on league business, and will involve the team travelling down into East Ayrshire for the match at the Scott Ellis Playing Fields in Kilmarnock.

When the teams met on the first Saturday of the 2025 league season back in early May at Glenpark, the 1st XI batted first and after a few ups and downs in the innings managed to struggle to 161 before being bowled out with five overs still available to be used.

In reply, Kilmarnock found themselves in some trouble early on with three wickets down and just 32 runs on the board. Included in the three wickets captured was South African amateur Daniel Lombard and the 1st XI sensed that another couple of quick wickets and the match could be theirs.

However, the East Ayrshire side were not lying down, and although the attack did pick up another two wickets, a sixth wicket partnership of 79 runs from Islam and Qamar gave Kilmarnock the win, which had seemed unlikely when they were 83 for 5.

But the 1st XI now have the initiative following the very convincing win last Sunday in the CS Challenge Cup. And this Saturday, they field a strong team which should be good enough to bring back the points. However, it has to be recognised that Kilmarnock are likely to field a stronger side this week than they did last weekend and this week's match will be a tighter encounter than last Sunday's meeting.

Aussie amateur Callum Henry was back on form last Sunday scoring an unbeaten 53 runs and he was ably supported by Sehmat Pandher who scored a quickfire 14 runs, and Cammy Calder who was 15 not out, as the team easily overcame Kilmarnock's total of 98.

Henry will be a key batsman for the team on Saturday, and if he can occupy the crease for a significant number of overs then a substantial team total is likely. Of course, he needs to be supported by others who must recognise the roles which they have to play for the team.

Calder also showed his ability as an opening pace bowler. His opening four over salvo had Kilmarnock's top order in difficulty from his first ball. His speed, length and line quickly brought him success and put the team on the path to victory, as he dismissed both Kilmarnock openers with less than a dozen runs scored.

The 1st XI's bowling attack proved too strong for the Killie batting line-up on Sunday with only South African amateur Daniel Lombard showing any resistance. Lombard may well be the key man to remove on Saturday, as the remainder of the East Ayrshire side's batters have failed to show any consistency in run scoring in the league in the first half of the season.

However, what happened in May when Kilmarnock looked a beaten side and then rallied to win the game, should be lesson for the Glenparkers. A game is not over until the last wicket falls. And the 1st XI must learn to drive home any advantage which they create.

Missing from the side on Saturday will be the side's second Aussie amateur Will Jenkins who has shown himself to be a useful all-rounder for the side. His absence from the side means that others will need to ensure that they focus on their cricketing skills and contribute positively to the side during the match.

The selected side for Saturday's match shows several changes from last weekend with Shailesh Prabhu, Sam Sanghera and Ewan Stewart, as well as Jenkins, all unavailable but Nikhil Kadyan and Sehmat Pandher return to the team and are joined by newcomers Dilpory and Leema.

The Glenpark XI will hope to continue their fine league form when they host Galloway at Glenpark on Saturday. Unbeaten in the league throughout the first half of the season, the team is joint leader of the Western Championship Three league. Team captain Eddie Ahmad has been a key player for the side and is the team's top run scorer. Last Saturday, against Kirkstyle, he built a fine partnership of 101 runs for the third wicket along with Usman Mansoor which put the team well on the road to a total of 203 for 9 which proved too much for the visitors. The selected team will aim to build on last weekend's fine win and keep the unbeaten run going.

The Hillend XI play host to Irvine Spartans in a Sunday League fixture at Glenpark on Sunday afternoon. So far the team's record on the competition is played one and won one, against Uddingston in mid-June and the selected eleven will be keen to maintain that unbeaten record. Play starts at 1pm.

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