Fun in the Sun at Gilvenbank Park

With the sun shining and proving September is more often than not a perfect month for cricket, Glenrothes took the opportunity to play an intraclub friendly focused on fun today at Gilvenbank Park.

Mayank's Marauders batted first and were soon in trouble as first Nathan Salt was bowled round his legs by Subhan Shirzad and then Wee Joe Myles bowled by a perfect off-cutter by Kevin Le Roux. Qasim Ahmad was soon to follow them back to the pavilion as he skied a catch off Urvish Patel for a well taken catch by Muhammad Tayyiub at mid-on. The Marauders in trouble at 10 for 3 in the fifth over.

It was to be Garry Tighe and Ben Krzyzanowski who took the onus to rebuild the innings, both batting well with some good boundary shots and pushing for singles. It was to be a surprise wicket though, as James Slingsby found some extra bounce and Garry (21) could only pop a catch to Urvish at mid-wicket.

Ben (16) was to soon follow him, as he took pity on Teeny Saim Tayyiub and rather than smack him out the ground could only instead chop a catch to mid wicket where Kevin took an excellent diving catch. The Marauders back in trouble at 45 for 5 in the 13th over.

Skipper Mayank was now at the crease and knew he'd have to bat well to help his team post a challenging total. He lost a few partners, with Shaun Rowcliffe bowled by Sufyan Ahmad, Kevin falling short of a hat-trick after bowling Haris Aziz and Wahab Tawheedi with consecutive balls and then Vraj Patel bowled by Sufyan - 89 for 9 with seven overs left.

It was to be Jordan Smith making a welcome return from the golf course to help him push the runs up to 113 with four overs to go, at which point Mayank retired not out on 53. This brought former Glens player Daniel Graveling to the crease (visting for the day and making use of the nets) and he was to finish 7 not out before Jordan's fun ended on 21 with well taken catch by Sufyan off the bowling of Aayan Sakhir.

[b]Mayank's Marauders 139 all out in 29.4 overs{/b]

If the Marauders innings got off to a bad start then the Scorpions were to soon show them what a proper collapse looks like - courtesy of Wahab Tawheedi the young leg-spinner. Paul Culleton was to go for the big waa-hoo second ball to be bowled, and then James was drawn in to a drive outside his off-stump to edge behind to Nathan. Two down for no runs in the first over.

But Wahab wasn't to stop there as he bowled Aayan in the third over, and then Wee Joe was to join the wickets party as he drew Muhammad into a big shot for Jordan to take a good stretching catch at mid-off.

Wahab was kept on as the Marauders applied the pressure, and he duly delivered claiming his first "Michelle" (Pfeiffer) five-for as he bowled his brother Rahman Tawheedi with an excellent googly. Wahab was to finish with excellent figures of 5 for 11 off 5.

Golf's loss was to be the Marauders gain as Jordan followed up his batting heroics to complete some more magic, as he got a direct hit run-out to send Urvish back to the pivvy and then followed up with his second catch (off the bowling of Haris Aziz this time) as Subhan tried to hit out.

At 54 for 8 in 12th over, the Scorpions were in trouble, but skipper Sufyan was hitting the ball well and was joined by Anas Tanveer and both looked comfortable. That is until a great bit of fielding by Wee Joe left both batters stranded at the keepers end and his throw was calmly caught and thrown to the bowlers end by Nathan to see Anas run out.

With Sufyan looking to "go big" it was to be Garry to claim his wicket as the big drive could only entice an edge behind for Nathan to take a good catch standing up to the stumps.

[b]Sufyan's Scorpions 79 all out in 14.5 overs[b]

It was great to see everyone engaging so positively throughout the game and listening to the feedback on where to improve. Then some nice cricket teas to follow was to then draw the day to a close - thanks everyone!