ON Saturday past Pepe’s St Michael’s Cricket Club met Motherwell at Kingholm Park, and once again two evenly matched sides produced an enthralling match of fluctuating fortunes, which Saints won narrowly by two wickets.
On winning the toss and batting first on a firm pitch, Motherwell lost three early wickets for 36 to the opening attack of Riley Coy (2) and Kieran Moore (1). However, a good partnership between R Palanismy and S Sajeev saw them recover to 146 for 5.
At that point, with the home side’s bowling and fielding looking decidedly ragged, a break for rain and an early tea allowed Saints to regroup and on their return to the field this paid dividends.
With Coy (3) changing ends and bowling quickly being backed up at the other end by Niamh Muir (2), the last five Motherwell wickets fell for 12 runs and the home side were only facing a total of 158 runs instead of one that looked well over the 200 mark before the break.
The other two wicket takers were Farukh Naqui and Farhad Hosankhial.
Catches were held by Chris Lumb (2), Reece McNay (1) with Bruce Nel behind the stumps taking three.
In reply, St Michael’s got off to their customary poor start, with none of the early batters coming to terms with an excellent Motherwell opening attack, and at 67 for 6 the writing looked on the wall.
However, the lower order batters marshalled by Naqui in a series of crucial partnerships, 40 between Naqui and Moore (8), 28 between Naqui and Muir (9) and an unbroken one of 24 between Naqui and Ross Dalling (2 n.o.) edged Saints home by two wickets for an unlikely victory.
Naqui finished a superb 45 n.o, playing such an important and accomplished innings in a match not for the light hearted, deservedly earning performance of the day award.
Thanks to Starsky’s convenience store for providing Saturday’s match ball.
Saints’ league match versus Mearns scheduled on Sunday never got started due to the wet conditions in Glasgow.
This Saturday the 1sts travel to Glasgow to play Milngavie, while the 2s, who had a free week last Saturday, play host to Renfrew 3s at Kingholm Park, 12 pm start, 40 overs per side.
Adult practice nights are Tuesdays and Fridays 6.30 pm to 8 pm at Kingholm Park. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Junior cricket is also free to come along and try. Everyone welcome, from 5 to 16-year-old. Every Monday 6.30 pm to 8 pm at Kingholm Park DG1 4SR.
