Last Ball Thriller at the Priory

Glenrothes made the trip to Rossie Priory this week for their latest league fixture. With some confusion regarding selection, it would be a 10 man team that would make the trip.

Having lost the toss, Glenrothes were asked to bat on a warm day in Rossie. Unfortunately, things were not to get off to a good start with opener Joe Burton being stumped from the third ball of the day.

This would bring Nathan Salt to the crease to join other opening batsmen Muhammad Talha. They would score quickly bringing 49 up in only 9 overs before Talha was caught behind off Stark for 20. This brought Chris Marshman in at four, however it was a short stay for the captain this week with him falling for a duck, caught behind from a horrendous hoick across the line third ball.

Qasim Ahmad would be the next man in, promoted after being stranded the following week. Salt continued his assault, once again hitting three huge sixes before being caught at point going for one shot too many for 27.

This would bring Paul Culleton to the crease, who looked to be in good touch before being bowled for 9 by Baird. At number seven was Mayank Sautiyal who looked to halt the collapse with Ahmad. Despite never looking comfortable on a very slow pitch, Sautiyal would bat well for his 14 and partner well with Ahmad who looked fluid before falling for 41 which would prove to be the highest score of the day from either team.

This would bring Sufyan Ahmed to the crease, who would hit a quick fire 20. Sautiyal would be bowled by Zaheed before Young Ben Krzyzanowski would be bowled by a tough swinging ball first up. Finally, Jordan Smith would be left 1* when Ahmed was given out LBW to Mackenzie to close the innings on 138.

This seemed to be a low score and with Glenrothes having only batted 28 overs, they assumed that the rest of the game would be a formality. However, as the phrase goes “never judge a score until both teams have batted”.

Ahmad and Smith would open the bowling for Glenrothes, and the example that they set was to be a sign of things to come. Ahmad would start with 3 consecutive maidens, while Smith would strike with his second delivery, dismissing Paul for a duck, and they’d leave Rossie priory on 12 for 1 from their first 8 overs.

It was to be Talha and Marshman as change bowlers and it was to be a repeat. Marshman would only go for 5 runs from his first 5 overs and Talha would dismiss Stephens (13), thanks to a fantastic catch from youngster Krzyzanowski in the cover area.

Sautiyal and Salt were to be the next into the attack and Sautiyal was immediately rewarded, taking a good catch off his own bowling from his first delivery to remove Dodson (15). Talha would then produce a stunning bit of fielding to run out Zahid (6). This would leave Rossie struggling on 46 for 4 from 20 overs and suddenly the game looked to be heading to an interesting conclusion.

Having spent time working on his bowling in the nets, Ahmed was the next to receive the ball and would reward Marshman’s faith in him by removing Nazki (16) and Moore (15). The returning Smith would then work with Culleton to have Khan stumped for 7 to a well worked plan.

With Rossie now seven wickets down and still needing 45 to win, Glenrothes were beginning to believe that this could be their first win of the season. Stark (21) would take the attack to the Glenrothes bowlers before Marshman brought himself and Ahmad back to stem the flow. Marshman would bowl Stark, while Ahmad would remove McFarlane (5).

This left Rossie requiring 11 runs to win, while Glenrothes would need just one wicket to secure their first win. However, it was not to be Glenrothes’s day, given two chances to dismiss Mackenzie, both catches were put down. Needing one to win from the final over, Mackenzie was patient and was able to steer the ball between square leg and short fine man for the required run off the last ball of the game.

Despite the heart-breaking nature of the defeat, Glenrothes can hold their heads high. They bowledand fielded exceptionally all day and stuck to their task with only ten men. In the end the result could have gone either way and we will look forward to welcoming Rossie to Gilvenbank for a highly anticipated rematch later in the season.

Chris Marshman
Captain