Batting Masterclass from Mayank Sautiyal

Glenrothes welcomed a Freuchie XI to Gilvenbank Park on Wednesday evening, for the first of two group matches in The Crickety SPCU T20 Trophy.

Glenrothes batted first, but the early plaudits went to young Ryan McLaughlin and Mutch for the visitors - reducing Glenrothes to 22 for 3 in the 5th over. This included an excellent catch by young Kieran McGlaughlin on the deep mid-wicket boundary to dismiss potential danger-man Sufyan Ahmad.

There had been a number of missed chances for Freuchie in those early stages and this continued in the 4th wicket partnership between Mayank Sautiyal (batting a bit too frenetically at the outset) and young Ben Krzyzanowski. But both soon settled in, with Krzyzanowski showing good application to rotate the strike and give Sautiyal the chance to showcase his array of batting strokes - though most were hit straight or over the cover areas.

Their century partnership came up in 10 overs, but shortly afterwards Krzyzanowski (17) hit a return caught and bowled to Farooq, bringing skipper Paul Culleton to the crease - in time to see Sautiyal bring up his century in the next over.

Both pushed on to the end of the innings with Sautiyal finishing on 125 not out (ten 4's and eleven 6's) and Culleton 11 not out, Glenrothes finishing on 172 for 4 from their 20 overs. Ryan McLaughlin was the pick of the bowlers with two for 12 from his 4 overs.

Freuchie's response got off to a bad start as McKay was trapped LBW by Bimal Nalaluparakkal Balan (two for 12) in the first over, and after some good shots from Welsh he was bowled by the same bowler for 12 in the fifth over, leaving Freuchie on 20 for 2.

This brought the youngsters Ryan McLaughlin and Michael Sheeran together, and they looked to consolidate at the outset. A number of dropped catches and half-chances missed kept the partnership going, but with a slow run-rate both then looked to up the tempo.

Sheerin in particular was showing a number of good strokes, including lofted drives over the cover fielders, though a couple of lusty blows from McLaughlin saw him just sneak ahead in the final tally - Sheeran finishing 32 not out and McLaughlin 33 not out, in a 77 run partnership in 15 overs to see Freuchie finish on 97 for 2.

It was a game that really could have went either way despite the differences in scores, if a number of chances had been taken. But it was great to see the young Freuchie players batting confidently throughout and Kieran McGlaughlin taking a stoater of a catch, but it was Mayank Sautiyal to take the plaudits with his fantastic century.