Glenrothes v Heriots 2

Glenrothes Cricket Club’s 1st XI got back on the winning trail in East of Scotland Division One with a solid six wicket home victory against Heriots 2ndXI at the Town Park on Saturday.

The home side made three changes from last weeks side with Darren Bremner, Ian Dale and Ally Sim returning to the team.

The capital side lost the toss and after being put in, made a blistering start with 50 posted without loss after only 11 overs. Darren Lewis replaced his namesake Bremner and after a loose first ball that was despatched for 4, he came back well and ended the over with two crucial wickets. First, the dangerous David Ross was caught by Tiro Madiseng at point for 21 and then A Hogarth was out caught at deep fine leg by Iain Georgeson.

Robert More, fresh from consecutive hundreds, survived a strong appeal for a catch behind, together with Stephen Litster moved the score at a slightly slower rate to 88 when Glenrothes made a double breakthrough. Georgeson, returning to the bowling for his second spell after a somewhat indifferent first three overs, accounted for Litster in the 20 th over and then in the following over Lewis got More (41) to play a loose drive straight to the hands of Mike Boyd at mid-off.

A couple of lusty blows from Douglas Richardson took the score on past the hundred but shortly after Glenrothes took a firm grip of the match with 4 wickets in 6 overs for only 8 runs. Georgeson was the first to strike when he had Richardson magnificently caught by Lewis at mid off as the ball swirled around in the wind as it dropped from the sky. Mike Boyd settled in to a nice line and length and was rewarded with the other three wickets to fall during this spell, aided by two catches behind by wicket-keeper Cammy Ross and another at silly mid-off by Madiseng.

Not wanting to give their opponents too many more runs, Glenrothes were keen to finish the Heriots tail off and despite a resilient 16 not out from Douglas Hamilton, they managed to take the final two wickets with a further 22 runs added and the Heriots innings ended in the 44 th over at 136 all out. Pick of the Glens bowling was Mike Boyd (3 for 9 from 5 overs) and Darren Lewis (3 for 24 from 8 overs). Darren Bremner was miserly as usual with 2 for 18 from 9.4 overs and Iain Georgeson fought back well to return figures of 2 for 34 from 10 overs, a great effort considering his first three overs went for 27 runs. On the down side was the number of extras conceded which were second top scorer with 29 – a problem that has plagued the side most of the season.

With vice captain and regular opener Greig Hopcroft unavailable, Glenrothes went with Darren Lewis to partner South African Tiro Madiseng in the run chase. Both went for their shots from the off and although they used a few lives, they peppered the boundary on a regular basis. The 50 came up in the 9 th over and just when it looked that a century stand was on the cards, Madiseng was unluckily bowled by Douglas Hamilton in the 15 th over with the score on 93 for a fine 41 from 50 balls. As often happens in high partnerships, when one goes the other follows and Lewis was heading back to the pavilion with no addition to the score after an attempted pull shot went straight up and he was caught for an excellent 43 (5 fours and two sixes) which came from 42 balls – not bad for last weeks number 10 batsman!

Experienced campaigners Andy Galloway and Ian Dale took the score on to 135 but with only two runs required for victory, Dale mistimed a drive from Hamilton and was caught for 29. New batsman Mike Sampson tried to win the game in one hit and was comprehensively bowled for a duck but normal service was soon resumed when Galloway (14 not out) waited on the next loose ball and despatched it for 4 to finish the game with Glenrothes 140 for 4 from 26.4 overs.

This Saturday sees a potential title decider when top of the table Glenrothes travel to Edinburgh to play second placed Grange 2ndXI in what promises to be an exciting encounter with the winners likely to go on and be crowned champions.

Click here for Saturdays scorecard