Marchmont v Glenrothes  

Glenrothes 1stXI returned home victorious from the capital on Saturday after recording a fine 7 wicket win against Marchmont in week two of the East of Scotland Division One.

Glens, with Ian Dale, Andy Galloway and Gav Henderson making their first starts in the top team this season, won the toss and elected to field first.

Malcolm Neil and Darren Lewis were again given the new ball and although the former settled in well with 4 maidens, the batsmen scored freely off Lewis as he struggled with the uneven approach to the wicket at the other end. Neil’s fine bowling was eventually rewarded when he had Navin Chetty caught at short cover in the12th over with the score on 37. A double change saw paceman Tiro Madiseng and seamer Mike Donaldson introduced to the bowling attack and in only his second over, skipper Donaldson removed Jonny Wilman with the help of a good catch from Henderson.

With Marchmont’s experienced pairing of Aaron Sardesai and Will Collier at the crease, it was imperative that Glenrothes kept things tight and they responded well by with only 15 runs coming from the next 8 overs. Donaldson bowled his allotted 10 overs straight through conceding only 11 runs in the process whilst the unlucky Madiseng made way for the slower pace of Dale, who made an immediate impact on the game with two wickets in 12 balls, including the prized wicket of Sardesai. Soon after, Collier went for a quick single but was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Ally Sim in the covers and Marchmont were in a spot of trouble at 64 for 5 in the 27 th over.

However, numbers 6 and 7 batsmen Mike Reed and Rob Bourne were in no mood to give their wickets away and they proceeded to stage a fine recovery against the bowling of Madiseng, Dale and Neil. Although they were aided by some indifferent fielding by the visitors as several catches went to ground, they batted positively, rotating the strike with the odd boundary added for good measure.

As the innings drew to a close with Marchmont on the ascendancy, vice-captain Greig Hopcroft, who took the Glen bowling honours last week, came up with the goods again when he finally broke the partnership, holding on to a skier off his own bowling to account for Bourne for an excellent 45 in a precious 78 run partnership. Hopcroft claimed another two wickets including Reed for a gritty 40 and although Dale captured his third wicket when he had Steve Mathers caught, the hosts managed to bat the full 50 overs finishing on 186 for 9. Pick of the bowling for Glens were Hopcroft 3 for 32 and Dale 3 for 52.

A new pairing of Hopcroft and Madiseng opened the batting in the Glenrothes reply but it only lasted two balls when Hopcroft edged a ball from Marchmont skipper Collier and he was well caught low down by Fergus Guppy at slip. Andy Galloway looked in good nick despite his lack of practice but was next out when he was bowled in the 10 th over by Chris Barker with the score on 14.

Marchmont suffered a blow the next over when Collier had to retire from the match through injury after an attempted catch off his own bowling – all at Glenrothes wish him a speedy recovery.

Madiseng was now joined at the crease by Dale following Galloway’s departure and as Dale played himself in, Madiseng mixed solid defence with some glorious attacking shots. Dale soon got in on the act himself with a big six and thereafter the two batsmen treated their team mates to a splendid array of stroke play that culminated in a superb partnership of 148 from approximately 180 balls until Dale was caught off the bowling of Bourne in the 38 th over with the score on 162 for a magnificent 73 (8 fours and 2 sixes). Glenrothes managed to knock-off the winning runs without further loss and the game finished in the 42 nd over with Madiseng carrying his bat for a glorious unbeaten 83 (11 fours).

In a well contested and good spirited match, Glenrothes picked up the full 20 points with Marchmont receiving 7 points for their endeavours.

Glenrothes play their first home game against early pace setters Livingston who will be hoping to keep their 100% record intact after their visit to the Kingdom on Saturday.

Click here for Saturdays scorecard