Rain Rain Go Away

Glenrothes 3s hosted local rival Largo 3s for the last game of the season at Gilvenbank on Saturday.

Craig Gould continued a fine season's success with the coin and won the toss and elected to bat first for the second week running.

Andy McAulay and Awais Ali opened the batting , but not for long, as Andy mis-hit the 2nd ball of the game and was out courtesy of a fine diving catch by Scott from his own bowling.

This brought big scoring Brummie Brett Wardle to the crease and he and young Ali soon put the Largo bowlers to the sword.
They raced the score onto 58 after 8 overs before Awais was run out.
Andy Muir came in at 4 and, with his Victor Meldrew alias under threat this year from Kenny Crichton, he needed to show a display of complete grumpiness and bad temper to reclaim his crown for 2014 - as it turn out he didn't disappoint !!!

Andy and Brett continued the onslaught against the young Largo bowlers, with Brett trying his best to lose even more balls than he had done 2 weeks ago. A couple of rain breaks were taken, including an early tea as the weather showed its Scottishness with outbreaks of blazing sunshine followed by dark grey skies and continual rain. After tea the pair pushed the score onto 147 after 22 overs before a , surprisingly, injured Brett was adjudged LBW by Umpire McAulay and despite protestations that he had edged it with his bat, he was on his way for a gallant 72.

Muhammed Talha was next up and as with previous weeks immediately showed his classy wristy batting style, before succumbing LBW for 4 runs.
Gouldy in his last game as 3rd XI skipper came in at 5 and he and Andy kept up the punishment of the Largo bowling, taking the score from 156 upto 197 before the rain made a re-appearance and another dash for the huts ensued. With no wind to move the rain away, despite the sun re-appearing and the outfield and the bowlers run ups just getting wetter and softer, Gould and Largo skipper Coates shook hands to end the match early - cue a hissy fit by Victor Muir as he was on 48 and only required 2 for his half century - to be fair his stomp back to the main pavilion was the fasted he had moved all day !! Gould was unbeaten on 21, continuing his fine batting form of late.

The 3s end the season with only 1 defeat in 13 games, and would definitely had another 2 wins in the last 2 weeks if the weather hadn't intervened as they had posted their biggest totals of the season.

All players involved this year with the 3rd XI can be very proud of themselves as they have all contributed in one way or the other.

Division 7 beckons next year and as outgoing Skipper I wish whoever takes the reins the very best of luck, and hope to be able to contribute myself to further success.