Run-spree in the Sun

Glenrothes 1st XI visited a sun-soaked Rossie Priory in the Breedon Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union (SPCU) Division 1 on Saturday 17 July.

With many players affected by Covid-19 isolations, injuries and summer holidays, it was a patched-up team that took the field led by skipper Paul Culleton. Culleton won the toss the chose to bat first, hoping to see the Rossie players wilt in the searing sun.

Andy Mudie and Joe Burton opened the innings, and both looked in little trouble before Burton was first out, skying a leading edge to gully of wily veteran Sandy Baird, with the score on 46 in the 11th over.

Two further wickets were to fall to MacKenzie, before youngsters Charlie Burton and Anas Tanveer provided good support to Mudie to take the score to 103 for 5 in the 25th over.

This brought Chris Marshman to the crease, and he was able to provide the support Mudie was looking for. With the bowlers beginning to wilt and deliveries getting shorter and wider, both batters were able to stretch their arms and hit for boundaries.

Mudie, showing restrained class throughout his innings, reached an amazing fifth century of the season - out of a team score of 136 in the 30th over. From there, both batters were able to push on with Mudie reaching his 150 in the 38th over (220-5) and then Marshman with a deserved half century in the 41st over.

Glenrothes were able to push on and close their innings on 269 for 5 in the 45th over, an outstanding turnaround. Outstanding effort from Sandy Baird (one for 33) bowling nine overs straight through at the start and MacKenzie with three for 45.

Stephens and Dodson opened the batting for Rossie in the second innings, and batted with obvious focus to bat as long as possible and "go large". A couple of dropped catches and near misses may have stuck another day, but both openers batted exceptionally well.

Culleton looked to rotate his bowlers round and it's great credit to him for giving the four youngsters (14 year olds Charlie Burton and Anas Tanveer and 13 year olds Muhammad Tayyiub and Ben Krzyzanowski) a good chance to bowl.

Indeed, it was to be Tanveer to make the breakthrough as Dodson (94) was to be bowled agonisingly short of a deserved century - in an outstanding opening partnership of 202 in the 35th over.

This brought Khan to the crease and he was able to stick with Stephens for six high scoring overs - but his attempts to hit the ball out of Perthshire was to be his undoing as he was bowled for 12 by Mudie - Rossie Priory on 247-2 in the 41st over.

It was to be young Tanveer to make the next breakthrough with a direct-hit run-out from fine leg to leave Rossie on 252-3 in the 42nd over - 17 runs needed in just over three overs. But it was to be Stephens to remain strong, as he saw Rossie home in the next over - finishing on an outstanding 126 not out in a winning total of 270 for three in 42.5 overs.

A massive well done to Rossie Priory for an outstanding victory, and an agonising second close defeat in two weeks for the Glenrothes team.