In-form Alamgir secures unlikely comeback for Clackmannan

For much of the day Clackmannan seemed to be in control of their own destiny.

Tariq Mehboob picked up three wickets in his spell of ten overs and, despite overhead conditions being conducive to bowling it really was a batsmens wicket with a quick outfield and value for your runs.

Accies, however, continued to lose wickets and at drinks the visitors were 96-6 from 26 overs.

Kumar and McLachlan then batted with great maturity and saw their side to a decent total.

Both fell late on to give Devesh Patel his first wickets for the 1st XI and overall figures of three wickets for 25 runs from his ten overs.

The tail fell quickly including two in two balls for Rizwan Ashraf and 149 to win looked an eminently gettable target.

Looking to get the new season off to a great start with the bat Tariq Mehboob and Keith Heifer opened the innings.

With the very first ball of the innings Mehboob spooned one up to mid wicket, and was out caught.

What followed was ultimately a lesson from the top six batsmen in how not to chase down a total.

Anderson was next to go for 10 playing a rash shot to a full ball from Amir 20-2.

Heifer, Rasul, Band and Ashraf all fell to ill-advised shots and in the circumstances really didn't need to play the shots they did to get out.

Oliver was caught behind from the only good delivery bowled by Accies bowler Ali whoss run up resembled a samba more commonly seen on  Strictly than a cricket pitch.

Clackmannan were now 47-7 and in danger of being annihilated in their first game of the season, Alamgir was joined at the crease by Patel.

The pair batted with great good sense, dispatching the bad balls and picking up singles and a lost cause slowly began to look possible again.

This particularly looked possible when Alamgir, who had been on the end of a few verbals while out batting, dispatched Kumar for two massive sixes and two well-timed fours and a twenty run over pulled Clackmannan to within seventy-seven.

They had put on 53 runs by the 28th over and Clackmannan had reached three figures and there were some quiet murmurs from the pavilion that this could be possible.

With Patel playing a beautiful innings in the circumstances of manoeuvring the ball into the gaps and being strong in defence, Alamgir from the other end was playing his usual belligerent best of smashing the opposition to all parts but also picking the gaps as well and the pair ran Accies ragged in the field.

Alamgir went through to a great fifty and with thirty-five to win, and was looking likely to carry the team home on his shoulders for the most unlikely of victories.

With Accies skipper Cosh having gambled that his best three bowlers would have been enough to bowl Clackmannan out, he found himself in a position having to resort to his less fancied bowlers.

Alamgir and Patel cashed in and continued to manipulate the bowling and with Alamgir’s hitting, Clackmannan were now within single digits of victory.

Khanchi was brought back and with his second ball was dispatched through point by Alamgir for four and with the very next ball a half volley Alamgir smashed the ball over mid off for four and the game was won, to the delight of the clubs patrons and president who could be heard from the boundary.

Clackmannan had been staring defeat in the face but, thanks to the resolve of Patel and Alamgir, had snatched victory.

Although there were a number of positives, particularly in the field and the bowling, not least the batting of Alamgir and Patel, the top order needs to look at itself and analyse how they nearly threw it away in the first place.

Nonetheless, Clackmannan now go into Saturday’s game at Murrayfield looking to build on a morale-boosting victory.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Clackmannan 2nd XI played Gargunnock in their first friendly of the season.

Clackmannan performed well in their first outing with a good batting, bowling and fielding performance.