Irvine v EK Match Report

Irvine didn't lose on Saturday, but they snatched a draw from the jaws of victory against Lanarkshire rivals East Kilbride at Torrance House. The two clubs have much previous history between them and games tend to be closely fought affairs with no quarter asked or given and this Western Union Division One fixture was to prove no exception.

After losing the toss Irvine bowled first and already missing some key personnel from the oval ball game who were attending the wedding of a team mate, might have been expected to wilt under the hot conditions. Drew Parson and Euan Morrison set about their task with the new ball though and Parsons soon proved too good for the first EK batsman making the breakthrough before double figures was reached by the home side. With Morrison bowling well for no luck it was the Irvine fielders who found the heat too much as two catching chances went abegging, one decidedly simple and the other far harder, but both allowing their opponents to settle and build a decent score.

Irvine stuck to their task though and with Morrison finding some success, taking a wicket personally and then creating a run out with a powerful throw, and when the recalled Chaitanya Mudunuri struck with his first ball, hopes of chasing a low total in the afternoon heat were high, hightened further after Morrison fired out another two opponents with successive quick deliveries. To their credit though East Kilbride persevered and their South African players were clearly enjoying the warm conditions as they built a big stand to seemingly take the game away from Irvine.

Irvine were no less dogmatic however and when Parsons finally done for one of the Boer duo, Morrison responded to take his first ever league 5 wicket performance for the loss of 47 runs, He was helped too by catches from Robbie Stewart and Craig Sharp as Irvine found their hands at last. By the time Mudunuri finished the EK innings with the last wicket, a target of 185 had been set which both teams were quite happy with given the ebb and flow of the innings.

Another experimetal opening pair saw Robbie Stewart and Chaitanya Mudunuri take the reply to 27 before Mudunuri popped up a catch in the 8th over. Kevin Giddings started confidently with a well struck boundary, but while it was a welcome return to the team for the popular and talented batsman, it was not one he will want to remember as he misjudged a straight ball to be bowled without offering a stroke.

With the EK new ball attack in full flow, coach Drew Parsons and experience batter Stewart consolidate, then take the attack to the opposition pacemen with a partnership of 74, before Stewart must have let the heat go to his head and give his wicket up with a lofted shot into the outfield. Undettered Parsons combined with Morrison to add another 29 before the player coach went in pursuit of victory with a firmly hit swat that a yard either side would have given him six runs but instead was clung on to by a relieved boundary fielder.

With 50 runs required for victory and 5 wickets remaining the game was certainly in the balance, but very next ball the advantage tilted to EK when Morrison was bowled playing a shot that suggested he was in a hurry to hear the speeches at the evening reception. Irvine were now left with little option but to attempt to avoid defeat by not being bowled out. And when other wickets fell, teenagers Craig Sharp (15) and Josh Conway (19) combined to survive the barrage of pace from one end and wiles of spin for the other, to remain not out and secure the draw for Irvine. More importantly dening the victory to EK in what is already looking like being a very closely contested division.

"A game we would have lost 4 weeks ago" was captain McCallum's summation at the end of the match. Which probably reflects the continued good work that Parsons continues to put in with the team at the Tuesday & Thursday training sessions. Next Saturday it is back to Marress with the visit of Titwood, the strong reserve XI of Glasgow powerhouse unit Clydesdale. Scottish cricket allows elite teams to field reserve sides in regional competitions so the visit on Saturday is a bit like an Old Firm reserve side playing in the lower divisions of the SFL. Irvine can expect a tough game against a team of current age grade future full internationalists and others with high level club experience. A 1pm start at the Marress ground and all spectators are always welcome
score card

east kilbride batting
A.Macleod...lbw D.Parsons...........2
S.Kampman...lbw E.Morrison..........11
G.Yadev..ct C.Sharp..b C.mudunuri..31
J.Gibbes.....runout.................7
F.Bronchhorst..b D.Parsons..........54
U.Saeed..ct C.Sharp.b Morrison......4
G.Urqhart..lbw Morrison.............0
R.Weideman..ct R.Stewart.b morrison.31
S.Mahmood..ctS.McCallum.b C.Mudunuri.11
M.Kellet...b E.Morrison.............2
S.Mann...not out....................7

total......185 allout

IRVINE BOWLING
.............O...M...R....W
D.Parsons...15...1...57...2
E.Morrison..15...1...47...5
C.Mudunuri..6....1...19...2
D.Neil......10...1...38...0
C.Sharp.....4....0...24...0


IRVINE BATTING
R.Stewart..ct U.Saed.b mahmood..36
C.Mudunuri.ct kellet b S.Mann...5
K.Giddings..b weidamann.........4
Parsons..ct mann..b mahmood.....60
E.Morrisons..b mahmood..........13
S.McCallum...lbw mahmood........3
J.Cowlan.....b weidamann........5
R.McPhee.....b weidamann........0
J.Conway.....not out............0
C.Sharp......not out............2

fall of wkt 27/1, 32/2, 106/3, 135/4, 135/5, 143/6, 147/7, 150/8