On a wicket with variable bounce, on a day with two breaks for rain, Clackmannan County defeated league leaders Watsonians II by 33 runs in a low-scoring and enthralling match.

This was a good day for Clackmannan County after the previous week’s disappointment at Gala.

It was a performance which was largely due to the bowlers, who all bowled tightly, keeping the ball up to the bat on an unpredictable pitch and rarely straying off line.

Clackmannan County 108 all out (K.J. Hefer 41, Ash Rasul 17; M. Versfeld 5 for 15, P. Legget 2 for 29); Watsonians II 75 all out (K. Rae 29, M. Versfeld 21; T. Mehboob 4 for 8, T. Sultan 3 for 21).

Watsonians won the toss and asked the home side to bat first. Things started badly for the Wee County. South African Craig Dolan was caught and bowled by Versfeld off a leading edge at the end of the second over, Tariq Mehboob was run out in a grotesque mix-up with Keith Hefer on the last ball of the third over, and Graham Oliver was clean bowled first ball by Versfeld off the last ball of the fourth over.

Four overs gone and the Clackmannan County score at 6 for 3. Worrying. Keith Hefer and Tippu Sultan steadied the ship somewhat, taking the total to 55 before Sultan was caught in the gully off Versfeld for an uncharacteristically careful 13.

Sultan can consider himself a bit unlucky, as the same fielder had already dropped Hefer twice in the same position.

Ash Rasul joined Hefer, and the pair took the total to 79 before Hefer’s luck ran out and he was adjudged leg before wicket to spinner Hutchison for 41.

Rasul was joined by Zeb Alamgir, the pair taking the score to 91 before Rasul was caught behind for 17 including a big straight six.

This was an excellent catch down the leg side by wicket-keeper Ben Fox.

Alamgir followed Rasul back to the pavilion two runs later, caught at cover, to leave the County side on 93 for 7.

At this point the rain started, resulting in a break in play of 83 minutes during which tea was taken.

Shortly after the resumption Kashif Ali was back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. 95 for 8.

With the County’s long tail now exposed skipper Rizwan Ashraf did what he could to push the score to 108 before being caught at cover.

Jared Wilkinson had kept his end up but Ashraf’s departure left him exposed and he was comprehensively bowled by Versfeld to close the innings after 38 overs.

When Watsonians went in to bat, Clackmannan County had an early breakthrough when Ashraf had Sim caught behind for 1 to put the visitors on 8 for 1in the fourth over.

After six overs there was a break for rain lasting 66 minutes. Thereafter Rae and Murray cautiously pushed the total to 23 before Murray edged Hefer to wicket -keeper Craig Dolan for 3.

Thomson did not last long before also being caught behind off Hefer. Rae and Versfeld took the total on to 58 in the 27th over at whih point Rae became Craig Dolan’s third victim when the keeper took an excellent catch standing up to Tariq Mehboob.

This seemed to rattle Versfeld, who was bowled by Sultan off the first ball of the next over. With five wickets and 21 runs Versfeld was undoubtedly Watsonians man of match.

Wee County tails were now up as wickets began to fall. Cheered on loudly by the home supporters Mehboob and Sultan finished off the remaining 5 batsmen.

Fox lobbed a straightforward catch to Sultan at cover off Mehboob, Legget was caught and bowled by Sultan, a scorcher of a catch from a full-blooded shot.

McAllister and Hutchison took the score to 75 when McAllister was caught by Sultan rushing in from cover, almost elbowing three other fielders out of the way to take a diving catch off Mehboob’s bowling.

Truly the champagne moment of the game. Two balls later opening bowler Willsdon was given out lbw, and the victory was secured on the first ball of the next over when Sultan took another catch off his own bowling for the last wicket.

Parkside Man of the Match - Tippu Sultan.