Battered Not Bruised at Breadalbane

Glenrothes 1st XI made the long trip to Aberfeldy, made even longer by massive queues at Perth, to take on Breadalbane on Saturday 3 July in the Breedon Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union (SPCU) Division 1.

With rain forecast to come in quick and heavy from mid-afternoon, an agreement was reached to play the game as a T20 (20 overs a-side).

Andy Mudie and Joe Burton opened the batting against the pacey Rae and Nimanta and had progressed well to 29 without loss from the first 4 overs. But first change Douthwaite was to make the breakthrough, as Mudie managed to drag the longest of long-hops to the only fielder in the deep on the leg-side.

Steven Donaldson was next in, and after trading a few boundaries and singles with Burton, was also dismissed to a catch - toe-ending an easy catch to Downie at mid-wicket.

Skipper Paul Culleton was next in, and he and Burton looked in little trouble until the latter was shot by the proverbial sniper, having to retire hurt on 28 with the score on 72 for 2 in the 10th over.

With James Haslam joining his skipper, both looked to start afresh for the second half of the innings - striking the occasional boundary and trading singles. They will though have been disappointed to have let the slow-pacer Bowler away with just 18 runs conceded off his three overs, as the batters got stuck thinking too much - stick the foot down the pitch and hit the ball was missing!

With Culleton dismissed for 22 and Brian Morris for a duck to the returning opening bowlers Rae and Nimanta, it was left to Haslam (24*) and Kenny Crichton (3*) to close out the innings (though not before Kenny was able to go one short in pushing a double) on 121 for 4 from the 20 overs.

Feeling was the score was about 10 to 20 runs short, but competitive and doable if the fielding and catching was top notch.

Unfortunately, the Breadalbane opening batters Rae and Jayaweera were in no mood to just knock a few singles and went after the batting from the off. That the bowling was generally too short or wide enough to let the batters just swing their arms was the other problem...

With the score on 70 for loss after just 7 overs and the home batters well set, it was the wily veteran David Snook who showed his years of experience to keep the ball well pitched up - grabbing the breakthrough in his first over as Jayaweera missed a hoick to be bowled. He was to repeat this trick in his second over as Thom was also bowled.

Whilst at the other end to compliment the years of experience of Snook, was the young and confident youth of Charlie Burton - he bowled excellently throughout his spell (full length was key) and was rewarded with his "birthday" wicket by bowling opener Rae for 36, and finishing with excellent figures of 1 for 16 off his 4 overs.

The jitters continued to creep through the Breadalbane batters, and it was to be skipper Culleton as wicket-keeper to be involved in the next two dismissals - first stumping Strudwick for 5 off the excellent bowling of Snook (3 for 15 from 4) and then juggling a hot potato catch of Brian Morris standing up.

With Breadalbane 118 for 5 in the 18th over, and three required to win, it was incoming Nimanta who took the risk and just succeeded in hitting the ball over mid-off to win the game for the home side.

Well done to Breadalbane for an excellent win - Rae and Jayaweera in particular made the difference and rightly lauded for their attacking all-round game, though the Glenrothes players will learn from the experience and know the need to be more proactive in their own batting and to keep the ball pitched up more when the pitch requires it!!