U14s Win at the Comets

The Gleneuchie (combined Glenrothes Gladiators and Freuchie Fliers) Under 14s team visited McKane Park in Dunfermline on Wednesday 1 September to take on the Dunfermline & Carnegie Comets in a 16 overs game.

Gleneuchie skipper Ben won the toss and chose to bowl first, perhaps freaked out slightly by the diminishing light of the previous game and the impact on batting second. But the early loss of Joshua, to an excellent one-handed catch on the boundary by Jonathan, Karthik just unable to chip past Nikhil at short mid-on and then Chris bowled left Gleneuchie on 27 for 3 from 5 overs.

But it was to be Michael to step up and control the innnings, as he was able to swing his arms through loose bowling down the leg side by most Dunfermline bowlers - and helped by some slack fielding also. With Ben looking to up the tempo with him before losing his wicket to an LBW to Jonathan (and Gleneuchie 47 for 4 at the half-way 8 overs mark), it was left to Amol to support Michael.

Both struggled to rotate the strike, with Connor (like previous games) and Peter showing good bowling control, but were able to hit the occasional boundary to keep the board moving. It was to be Michael to take the well deserved applause though as he retired on 31 not out in the last over and help Gleneuchie finish on 86 for 4 from their 16 overs - a lower score than hoped but one that felt defendable with strong bowling and fielding.

After a couple of lusty blows, Charlie's preference for hitting across the line was to be his undoing as he was trapped LBW by Michael in the third over, and three balls later he was to get his second wicket , bowling Jonathan - Comets 13 for 2 from 3 overs. Fellow Fliers player Chris was next to make an impact as he saw Nikhil hit a catch to Karthik at mid-off, with a fourth wicket taken by Joshua as he bowled opener Finlay for 4 in the 9th over - Comets 32 for 4.

This brought William and Peter together and both batted well, with William in particular looking to swing his arms hard at anything going down the leg side including a couple of big hit 6s. Having batted easily against everyone else, it was skipper Ben to put pressure back on William with an excellent 13th over with just one run conceded, and then with William retiring on 30 not out next over, it was Ben to make the breakthrough next ball on the first ball of the 15th over has he bowled Peter with a good slower ball.

The Comets were unable to hit out from there, before finishing on 74 for 5 from their 16 overs - a win by 12 runs for Gleneuchie. It was to be a very strong bowling performance by all of the Gleneuchie players to make the difference. Many thanks to the Comets for hosting.