Blow to County's promotion hopes

Published 7 Jul 2010 12:22 0 Comments

CLACKMANNAN County CC's promotion hopes were dealt a blow after a disappointing defeat away to West Lothian seconds.

Arns skipper Black lost the toss and was asked to bat by his opposite number. Rich Passe and Graham Oliver opened proceedings for Clacks and started in sedate fashion as some tight opening bowling saw only three runs come off the first four overs. Oliver was first to go being bowled by a full pitched ball. Skipper Black then joined Passe at the crease and played some nice shots - unfortunately though straight to the fielders.

The score had progressed to 23 when Passe was bowled in similar fashion to Oliver departing for six. At this stage, consolidation was the key but one run later, skipper Black was caught behind by Snedden for 12. Gordon Oliver and David Watkins were now batting together, and put on a small partnership, mainly due to three consecutive boundaries off Olivers bat. Watkins succumbed to a slower ball and was bowled for two.

Neil Ramsay then joined Oliver at the crease, and the two built a partnership of 20 before Ramsay spooned an easy catch to extra cover for six. Greig Taylor joined the party and saw two wickets fall before he faced a ball.

Firstly Oliver was caught behind after a miscued pull shot for 18, the second highest score of the innings after extras took that place with 29.

Playing his first game for the 1st XI this year, James Couper looked in decent touch, caressing the ball through point and over extra cover, before he was trapped in front for seven.

Taylor was next to go, bowled for nought by Raven. Alan Oliver was next in, but was soon out comprehensively bowled by Bennie for nought. Number 10 and 11, Matt Booth and Rizwan Ashraf respectively looked to be able to nudge the score above the 100 mark, before Booth was run out for four going for a suicidal second run. Clackmannan 88 all out.

Clacks really needed to make early inroads if they were to make any sort of game of this encounter but it didn't seem as if the luck was going to be with the county side. Ken Thomson and 13-year-old Micheal Miller took to the attack to the Clackmannan openers of Neil Ramsay and Rizwan Ashraf.

Some loose bowling saw the score rocket to 42-0 in seven overs, but Ashraf was unlucky not to have got the breakthrough as he had two very conclusive LBW decisions turned down.

A change of bowling saw Craig Black come on, and having liked the look of the pitch, he decided the best way to go was to bowl just back of a length and get the batsmen on the back foot.

Ashraf was to get the only wicket for Clackmannan bowling Miller for 37, but by this stage West Lothian were just going through the motions and ran out comfortable winners.

A poor performance by Clackmannan, but with promotion still available the team will need to put this defeat behind them and look to amend things next week with fellow table toppers Drummond Trinity

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