Glenrothes 2nd XI v SMRH 3rd XI

With 2nd X1 skipper Craig Gould away on Matrimonial business, Willie Morrison took control of a decimated 2nd X1. With numerous call off’s Glenrothes took the field at the Glenrothes Riverside Park with 13 year old Craig Muir in the side against a Stewarts Melville 3rd side who themselves were only able to muster up 8 players in a match which throughout was very one sided.

Stewarts Melville lost the toss of the coin and Willie Morrison had no hesitation in putting the opposition in to bat on a surface lacking in water and causing great difficulty for Stewarts Melville as they were unable to come to terms with the shorter pitched delivery which lifted sharply off a very dry surface and lead to the down fall of many of the Stew Mel batsmen. Opening batsmen Keith and Brocklehurst although racing away to 30 from the first 5 overs were giving chances and it was no surprise when Alan Hutchison had Brocklehurst well caught by Tam Kimmet in the 6 th over. With Alan Hutchison now bowling a fine away swinger he was causing problems for the Stewarts Melville batsmen and he had Keith Caught by Chris Yarwood and then Craig caught by Willie Morrison his first of three catches during the afternoon to have Stew Mel reeling at 38 runs for 3 wickets. Glenrothes took the decision to bowl out the luckless Ian Georgeson and Alan Hutchison who took 3 for 38 from his allotted 9 overs to be replaced by Dave Snook and Manju Kadnaik. Two fine partnerships of 39 and 30 with Napier and Davies scoring 37 and 29 respectively took the score onto 107 in the 28 th over at the fall of the 5 th wicket with Dave Snook getting back to more of his former self, bowling a fine line and length picking up the wickets of the aforementioned players from catches by Willie Morrison and Robert Swan.

Robert Swan was introduced into the bowling attack in the 31 st over and had an immediate impact picking up the wicket of Coyle with the score on 118. The Stewarts Melville innings was wrapped up by Dave Snook with Napier being last out being well caught by Skipper Willie Morrison, giving Dave the fine figures of 3 for 23 from 8 overs bowled. Special mention must go to the good team spirit and the application of the Glenrothes team who bowled and fielded well.

Glenrothes opened their innings with Skipper Willie Morrison and Geoff Sampson who earlier in the season had combined well in a partnership of 87. Stewarts Melville on the other hand with 8 players only were unable to plug the gaps as both batsmen cracked the many loose deliveries as they put together a fine undefeated and winning first wicket partnership of 133 with 22 boundaries in addition to 22 single runs being scored. The partnership being based on the understanding that only boundaries and singles would be the order of the day, something to do with age and lack of fitness.

Willie Morrison on the back of a fine hat trick of catches in the field scored a fine undefeated 66 his second 50 of the season, with 54 year old Club President Geoff Sampson in the twilight of his career hitting a fine undefeated 62 to take the club through to a convincingly one sided victory and an excellent 20 points.

Click here for Saturdays scorecard