The first win of the season

A combined Glenrothes XI made the relatively short trip across Fife to play Broomhall (at Charlestown) in a friendly match today. With heavy rain being natures music for the journey things weren't looking good, but luckily the Cairns stayed relatively dry (though bitterly cold) to allow the game to go ahead.

Both skippers agreed to a 30 over friendly with batters retiring at 40 and the full 30 overs to be used up. It was Glenrothes skipper Qasim Ahmad who won the toss and asked Broomhall to bat first, hoping the damp outfield might hinder their bowling plans.

But it was to Broomhall to make the strong start, with opening bowler Ramsay making a double breakthrough in the third over to dismiss young Karthik Coppisetty and recent under 16s wicket-keeper (ok, maybe not of legal age) Nathan Salt (who as his photo proves is making marvelous progress in a his fitness journey).

This was soon followed with a deserved third wicket for Ramsay, trapping Sufyan Ahmed with the score on 22. It was be older brother Qasim Ahmad and debutant Bimal Nalupurakkal Balan to bring some stability to the innings, reaching their 50 partnership in just over 10 overs.

The mid-innings drinks break is always a dangerous time for batting teams, but it was to be Bimal to come out firing hitting three sixes in the first over back, but the veteran Ward didn't stick to his game plan to get the batter caught in the deep and instead floated one up well to trap Bimal leg before wicket for 39.

Ahmad was joined by Mayank Sauitiyal who looked to keep the tempo going, and having reached 23 he was unlucky to be given out caught in the deep hooking a full-toss in front of his face - a bit of umpire training for the Glens players needed!

A few more Glens batters came and went, though Shaun Rowcliffe brought some great cheers for a couple of great shots and an attempt at a suicidal run, but with Ahmad retiring on 41 not out it was left to Kevin Le Roux at 11 to leave the final mark with a beauty of an off-drive for four. A strong bowling display from the Broomhall bowlers wasn't quite matched in the scorecard with a very profligate 39 extras, allowing Glenrothes to end on 171 all out.

Home skipper I Ward started off strongly in response, with some nice shots with even the mis-timed shots or those coming off the edge of the bat running well to the boundary. Glenrothes were thus delighted to see him removed in the ninth over as first change bowler Le Roux enticed him into a mishit to Sufyan Ahmed for 26 - Broomhall 34 for one.

With Lucas looking coming in at three looking comfortable, it was to be a mix-up with his batting partner Ramsay to be his downfall, with Sufyan Ahmed returning a good throw to keeper Salt to see him run out.

Opening batter Ramsay was by this time beginning to bat more comfortably, and with great support from Hoefling both consolidated the innings perfectly - Ramsay attacking as Hoefling hit the singles to get him back on strike.

With their fifty partnership coming up in less than nine overs, Broomhall will have been disappointed to see their progress end as it also meant Ramsay was to retire for a well made 41 not out.

At this stage Broomhall were 90 for 2, requiring another 82 runs from from just over 11 overs to win. Hoefling was joined by Gudgin and they looked to attack the bowling where they could and bring the run rate down, doing so very well.

Glens skipper Qasim Ahmad brought back opener Sautiyal and change bowler Bimal to try and make the breakthrough, and it was to be the latter to reward his skippers faith as he enticed Hoefling (26) to mis-hit into the deep mid-wicket area where young Coppisetty was to take a well-judged catch.

The score was now 131 for three in the 24th over, 41 runs needed in just under six overs - pretty much anyone's game to claim basically!

Gudgin was continuing to chip away at the target well, striking some nice shots but when he was bowled by Jordan Smith for 29 it was pretty much game over - which it proved to be, as Broomhall came up short on 159 for six from their 30 overs.

Overall, a really good game from which both teams will have taken many positives in giving players valuable batting and bowling time in the middle. Over 300 runs scored in 60 overs on a bitterly cold day in April says a lot about the great play both teams brought to the game!

Many thanks to Broomhall for hosting us so well, and we look forward to meeting up with them on the cricket pitch again soon.