Freuchie Run Out Winners

The 2022 season started with a friendly fixture against near neighbours Freuchie, with the game switched to the Ramsay Oval at Gilvenbank Park.

Visiting skipper Callum Glasgow won the toss, inviting Glenrothes to bat first. With Joe Burton, Jay Lewis and Charlie Burton all making starts but not able to push on, it was to be Qasim Ahmad and youngster Karthik Coppisetty to rebuild in a fine partnership.

Karthik couldn't quite get his normal big-hitting going but showed good determination to stay in and rotate the strike to help his partner. With Karthik bowled by from Glens player Craig Gould, this brought Paul Culleton to the crease - and he soon started trading boundaries with his partner.

Qasim was to retire not out on 37, leaving Paul to see the innings through to a close with 27 not out in a total of 124 for 5 from 30 overs.

Glasgow opened the Freuchie innings with Iain Wilkinson, and both soon got the run rate well ahead - Wilkinson in particular looking to hit his pull shots or straight hits the boundaries.

It was to be the Glens youngsters to step up though, as first Charlie Burton had Glasgow (24) well caught by Sufyan Ahmed after a partnership of 75, then Ben Krzyzanowski followed up by first trapping Gordon Moffat LBW and then bowling George Young.

With Iain Wilkinson also having retired not out on 46, Freuchie were 100 for 3 from 19 overs - needing a further 25 runs to win from the 11 overs. With Sufyan Ahmed finding better control with his slow bowling, he was then joined by Ravi Kiran with his slow right-armers, and he was to strike second ball with Andy Creswell caught by Jay Lewis.

His tempters proved too much for young Ryan McGlaughlin as both tried to use their feet to go for the big-wahoo only to miss the ball and see Paul Culleton complete stumpings against both. Freuchie now 121 for 6 from 28 overs, but a well paced innings by Callum MacKay (12 not out) was able to see them through with Scott Birrell hitting the winning runs in the last over.

Great to see everyone out playing cricket again, and a close game even better to get the cricket brains working again! Many thanks to Freuchie for a game played in great spirits.