2nd XI Krushed by Kinloch

Glenrothes 2nd XI welcomed Kinloch 2nd XI to Gilvenbank Park on Saturday 18 June for a Breedon Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union (SPCU) Division 2 fixture.

Prior to the match, both teams were keen to stand together and show their support for the #CallItOut campaign which aims to encourage everyone to take a stand against racism, discrimination and inequalities. Find out more about the campaign on the Cricket Scotland website.

Visiting captain Habib won the toss and had no second-guessing in asking the home team to bat first on a green-top pitch. Muhammad Talha (7) was first wicket fall, walking after edging a faint inside edge behind to keeper Habib, very quickly followed by young Karthik Coppisetty to be trapped LBW to right-armer Bilal Sadiq bowling round the wicket.

At 17 for 2 in the 8th over, opener Dave Snook was joined by his skipper Jay Lewis with the latter looking to attack. Having hit some boundary shots, Lewis (20) tried a few too many with his timing letting him down - a four through the cover fielders hands was followed next ball with a shoveled-edge into the slips for Sadiq to take a catch to slow left-armer Ahmed.

Ravi Kiran soon followed in a like-father like-son moment has he was trapped LBW (like Karthik). Joe Burton joined Snook, and soon judged the pace of the pitch to hit a number of good lofted drives over the mid-wicket fielders. Snook by this time had taken a number of hits to his body and chin, showing great determination to bat through, but unfortunately it was to be a mix-up in running to be his downfall as he was run out for 12 with the score on 61 for 5 in the 27th over.

With Jordan Smith (1) and Brian Morris (7) falling cheaply, including Adees Ahmed claiming his fifth wicket to finish 5 for 29 from 8, it was left to youngsters Muhammad Tayyiub (6) and Ben Krzyzanowski (9) to hit some good shots and lift the score. But with both dismissed and Shaun Rowcliffe disappointed to be left stranded on 0 not out without facing more balls, Glenrothes' innings ended on 98 all out in the 36th over.

Only a disciplined bowling display was going to be good enough for Glenrothes, but Lewis' opening over going for 13 runs set a positive tone for Kinloch.

With the 50 coming up in the ninth over, it was to be second-change bowler Dave Snook to make the breakthrough as he bowled his "bunny" Muhammad Saghir. This brought in Azhar Awan at number three to partner other opener Mohammed Khurshid, both batting with confidence - keeping the scoreboard ticking over with some mis-timed shots going for easy singles but many other balls soaring past the boundary line.

Dropped catches were never going to help Glenrothes but Kinloch continued to show the benefit of batting positively. It was to be Shaun Rowcliffe to make the next breakthrough though, as respectful batting from the Kinloch batters was eventually broken as Awan (28) looked to rush out but with Rowcliffe pushing the ball wider it was young Coppisetty to complete the stumping.

Young Muhammed Tayyiub was next to make a big contribution, as he bowled Atta Ur Rahman (4) to claim a second bowling bonus point for Glenrothes. Unfortunately it was too late, as Kinloch hit the winning runs shortly after to finish on 101 for 3 in the 19th over.

A well deserved win for a strong Kinloch team who played the game well. Very much look forward to playing them again later in the season.