Forgetting how to play cricket at Meigle

The 1st XI made the trip to Meigle for their first league fixture of the season.

With a forecast for heavy rain later in the day, the skippers agreed to a shortened game with 35 overs aside in the hope of securing a result. Marshman won the toss for the second week in a row and elected to bowl first, making use of a dry ball and aware of the possibility of a DLS scenario later in the match.

Nathan Salt and Jay Lewis opened the bowling, and with three maidens in the first four overs, kept the run rate down to start. Salt made the early breakthrough, having Sinclair chop onto his stumps. The run rate was kept low through their opening spells with only 17 runs being scored from the first 8 overs.

Change bowlers Marshman and Brian Morris continued the miserly bowling, this leading to the next wicket with Marshman bowling Stewart as he tried to push the score along. Keeper Paul Culleton was unlucky not to cling onto a chance from Morris’s next over but made amends with a stunning one-handed catch off Marshman to remove Harvey.

Next into the attack was young Ben Krzyzanowski who struck with his second ball, bowling Kenny for a duck. Meanwhile, F. Barron had been beginning to look set whilst wickets fell at the other end, however, he went for one shot too many, hitting the ball straight to Sufyan Ahmed for a sharp catch at mid-on off Marshman’s bowling.

At this point, the dreaded drizzle began, and the bowling side began to struggle with the Meigle batsmen making the most of some loose bowling and indifferent fielding from Glenrothes. Having kept the home team to 61 for 5 from the first 20 overs, Meigle would go on to score a further 112 from their final 15 overs, finishing on 173 for 9 from their 35 overs.

Mentions must go to young Charlie Burton for removing the big-hitting Croll by LBW and the returning Salt who claimed the wickets of Wimberly and Bruce to finish with 3 for 15 from his seven overs. With extra’s totalling 35 and being Meigle’s second-highest scorer, Glenrothes were up against it in their second innings.

Joe Burton and Lewis would open up the batting for Glenrothes, however, with the weather looking as though it would worsen, they were up against it with a required run rate of almost 5 an over required. Lewis was the first to fall, being caught off the bowling of Barron after mistiming his shot to square leg.

Burton Snr would soon follow, also being caught off other opening bowler Stewart. Muhammad Talha looked to be positive, hitting a boundary to start with before also being caught off Stewart’s bowling. Salt was next to go after edging Stewart to wicketkeeper Wimberly for a second-ball duck. Struggling with an injury, Qasim Ahmed never really got going before being caught off Kelly’s bowling.

By now Glenrothes had slumped to 31 for 5 from 12 overs and the rain did not look like it would save them. However, there are always positives in every scenario and Charlie Burton was to remind Glenrothes of that. Mixing solid defence with a wide range of shots, young Charlie would go on to be the highest scorer for his team finishing on 21 not out and batting over 23 overs in the drizzle.

He was ably supported initially by Culleton who hit some lusty blows before falling for 16, and Marshman, who fell for 18 after a few aggressive shots, being run out by an excellent direct hit by Christie. Morris and Kryzanowski would partner Burton Jnr for a further 7 overs before Glenrothes were bowled out for 99 in their 32nd over.

Credit must be given to Meigle who accelerated well whilst batting and bowling tightly while fielding excellently in the rain. However, Glenrothes have plenty to work on if they wish to fight for wins this season. Seven batsmen being caught and 35 extra’s being the main areas that we should look to improve as the season continues.

Many thanks to Bob and his team at Meigle who despite the weather played the game in good spirit and we look forward to welcoming them to Gilvenbank Park later in the season, hopefully for a different result. Next week sees the 1st team welcome Largo to Gilvenbank, while the 2nd XI face Kinloch 2’s on Sunday.

Chris Marshman, Captain