Friday, 31 August 2007
Monday, 27 August 2007
Win or bust for Irvine and it's........
a WIN!
Irvine Cricket Club preserved their Division One future on Saturday when they beat basement rivals Galloway with a battling team performance at Marress.
Irvine knew only a win would be good enough to give them a chance of staying in the top division and got off to a grim start when Robbie Stewart was out early. Pakastani professional Mohammed Nawaz dug deep to overcome the difficult batting conditions to make the top score of the match with 58. Solid contributions came from Drew Parsons, Graham Owens and Mike Ingram who all scored twenty apiece to guide the home side to a decent total of 160 for 7. Crucially the Irvine men batted with discipline to match their skill to ensure that Galloway could only collect 4 bowling points of the 6 they needed to ensure automatically staying above the home side. A good decision by the "brains trust" of McCallum and Parsons, selflessly executed by the team.
For Galloway avoiding defeat would preserve their league status and the indecision whether to go all out for victory or keep wickets in hand to ensure a draw seemed to adversley effect the performance of their batsman. Irvine were also delighted to see that Galloway decided to hold back their batting goliath, professional Choudry, until three wickets had fallen.
Irvine took full advantage and the usual aggressive and accurate start by Parsons secured two quick wickets, one with a full length dive by the Scotland man for a spectacular caught and bowled dismissal. Derek Neil bowled in his usual dependable manner to provide the perfect foil in an accurante opening spell and soon Galloway were struggling.
It was the unheralded Mike Ingram who made the decisive contribution with 3 wickets in a 5 over spell. chaitanya mudunuri taking two terrific catches to help his 2nd XI captain claim the dismissals.
When Nawaz dismissed the oppositon captain and then followed up to bowl Chouudry, Irvine were on the brink of victory. Parsons sealed it by bowling some unplayable spin and a stunned Galloway side were bowled out for only 57 runs and themselves plunged towards the bottom of the league. (Results elsewhere may still keep them up however, so pack the Andrex for next season GHL)
"A difficult season ruined by rain has at least seen some progress off the field with several youngsters coming through to take places in the first eleven under the guidance of coach Drew Parsons. We need to keep that progress going to improve things for next season and our next objective has to be getting more youngsters playing the game." Was the opinion of captain Stuart McCallum reflecting on a narrow escape and looking ahead to 2008.
The season is not quite over yet for the relieved Marres men as they travel to Freuchie again next Sunday for the 3rd attempt at playing their Scottish Trophy final against Huntly.
Irvine Cricket Club preserved their Division One future on Saturday when they beat basement rivals Galloway with a battling team performance at Marress.
Irvine knew only a win would be good enough to give them a chance of staying in the top division and got off to a grim start when Robbie Stewart was out early. Pakastani professional Mohammed Nawaz dug deep to overcome the difficult batting conditions to make the top score of the match with 58. Solid contributions came from Drew Parsons, Graham Owens and Mike Ingram who all scored twenty apiece to guide the home side to a decent total of 160 for 7. Crucially the Irvine men batted with discipline to match their skill to ensure that Galloway could only collect 4 bowling points of the 6 they needed to ensure automatically staying above the home side. A good decision by the "brains trust" of McCallum and Parsons, selflessly executed by the team.
For Galloway avoiding defeat would preserve their league status and the indecision whether to go all out for victory or keep wickets in hand to ensure a draw seemed to adversley effect the performance of their batsman. Irvine were also delighted to see that Galloway decided to hold back their batting goliath, professional Choudry, until three wickets had fallen.
Irvine took full advantage and the usual aggressive and accurate start by Parsons secured two quick wickets, one with a full length dive by the Scotland man for a spectacular caught and bowled dismissal. Derek Neil bowled in his usual dependable manner to provide the perfect foil in an accurante opening spell and soon Galloway were struggling.
It was the unheralded Mike Ingram who made the decisive contribution with 3 wickets in a 5 over spell. chaitanya mudunuri taking two terrific catches to help his 2nd XI captain claim the dismissals.
When Nawaz dismissed the oppositon captain and then followed up to bowl Chouudry, Irvine were on the brink of victory. Parsons sealed it by bowling some unplayable spin and a stunned Galloway side were bowled out for only 57 runs and themselves plunged towards the bottom of the league. (Results elsewhere may still keep them up however, so pack the Andrex for next season GHL)
"A difficult season ruined by rain has at least seen some progress off the field with several youngsters coming through to take places in the first eleven under the guidance of coach Drew Parsons. We need to keep that progress going to improve things for next season and our next objective has to be getting more youngsters playing the game." Was the opinion of captain Stuart McCallum reflecting on a narrow escape and looking ahead to 2008.
The season is not quite over yet for the relieved Marres men as they travel to Freuchie again next Sunday for the 3rd attempt at playing their Scottish Trophy final against Huntly.
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Captains Report ( Marress v Crow Road)
Today Marress fielded a very strong squad on paper. Captain Mike Ingram was desperate to win the toss and make the opposition bat first. Sadly the toss turned out to be a vital call today and sadly for Marress they lost it and were sent in to bat first.
Mike Ingram and Craig Sharpe opened the batting and made a slow and cautious start. The bowling attack was fairly acurate and was hard to get runs from it. In the 13th over Marress lost their first wicket (Craig Sharpe) for only 4 runs, he was clean bowled.
This brought young James Cooney to the crease and he was hoping for a better innings than he had shown so far this season, sadly he was bowled in the 15th over for 0.
In next was Josh Conway, another batsman looking for some form, sadly he fended off a high bouncing delivery to short leg for 2 and Marress were struggling at 36 for 3.
David Ingram came in next and although not batting with any confidence he managed to stay at the crease for 6 overs and put a small partnership on with Mike and just as things were looking better for the side David was cleaned bowled for 4. This left Marress on 67 for 4.
Just as Mike was thinking things cannot get much worse, in came Chatanyia Mudunuri & Fernando and both were bowled for 0. Marress were looking like they were sinking faster than the Titanic as they were now on 67 for 6.
At the point Mike Ingram had made up his mind that he would have to try and dominate the bowlers and keep as much of the strike as possible. He managed to do this with the help of the new batsman Ally Mitchell. Both Ally and Mike put on a partnership of 28 before Ally was caught for 0. Marress now 95 for 7.
At this point mike looked at the remaining batsman and thought if they could make a grand total of 125 they would be doing well. Mike turned out to be totally wrong with his thoughts as the new batsman Gary McMeeking entered the arena like a gladiater.
Gary began slowly by hitting the first ball he faced for 4 and two balls later he did it again. Gary was on top form and together with Mike they destroyed the Crow Road bowlers. A partnership of 102 was made before Mike was given LBW (again) for 106. A fine and responsible innings for the skipper. The score had now moved to 198 for 8 and Marress were looking good.
In came Josh Taylor next and he was very nervous( sweat was dripping down his neck) as he took his guard. Josh was desperate for some runs as he had shown during the week that he was a good batsman, yet he had only managed to score 1 run in matches. Josh steadied himself as he faced his first delivery and he hit the best shot of the day to the boundary, quickly followed by another. He received a standing ovation from the grandstand as he lashed the ball all over the pitch. The next man out was Gary McMeeking for an excellent personal best of 42.
This introduced the last pairing and they added a few more runs before Josh Taylor was bowled for 15, another personal best.
Marress were finally all out for 218.
After another fantastic tea Marress set about their business in attempting to bowl their opposition out.
Mike Ingram & Josh Conway opened the bowling and had no luck, the score moved onto 53 before their was finally a break through made, it came in the way of the Doctor (Chatty) he cleaned bowled the opener. (you have to bowl them out or catch them as no LBW are ever given it seems). Chatty quickly made his second breakthrough and we had them 62 for 2.
Was the Marress going to get the 3rd win of the season??????????
David Ingram came on at the other end and very quickly had a spell of bowling worthy of any league, he had 3 batsmen in the clubhouse within 5 overs and Crow Road were reeling at 87 for 5.
Another wicket by Chatty and they were 87 for 6.
After several bowling options were used Marress finally made another breakthrough with Chatty getting his 4th and final wicket of the day and this left Crow Road on 127 for 7. A quicker delivery by Craig Sharpe saw him take the next wicket and they were 127 for 8.
Victory was getting closer, although at this stage their were only 6 over to go.
Sadly only one more opportunity presented itself, but this was dropped and Crow Road survived to the end and scraped a draw.
A very good all round performance and a special mention must go to the nominated Man of the Match GARY McMEEKING for his excellent 42.
Well done lads.
Mike Ingram
Mike Ingram and Craig Sharpe opened the batting and made a slow and cautious start. The bowling attack was fairly acurate and was hard to get runs from it. In the 13th over Marress lost their first wicket (Craig Sharpe) for only 4 runs, he was clean bowled.
This brought young James Cooney to the crease and he was hoping for a better innings than he had shown so far this season, sadly he was bowled in the 15th over for 0.
In next was Josh Conway, another batsman looking for some form, sadly he fended off a high bouncing delivery to short leg for 2 and Marress were struggling at 36 for 3.
David Ingram came in next and although not batting with any confidence he managed to stay at the crease for 6 overs and put a small partnership on with Mike and just as things were looking better for the side David was cleaned bowled for 4. This left Marress on 67 for 4.
Just as Mike was thinking things cannot get much worse, in came Chatanyia Mudunuri & Fernando and both were bowled for 0. Marress were looking like they were sinking faster than the Titanic as they were now on 67 for 6.
At the point Mike Ingram had made up his mind that he would have to try and dominate the bowlers and keep as much of the strike as possible. He managed to do this with the help of the new batsman Ally Mitchell. Both Ally and Mike put on a partnership of 28 before Ally was caught for 0. Marress now 95 for 7.
At this point mike looked at the remaining batsman and thought if they could make a grand total of 125 they would be doing well. Mike turned out to be totally wrong with his thoughts as the new batsman Gary McMeeking entered the arena like a gladiater.
Gary began slowly by hitting the first ball he faced for 4 and two balls later he did it again. Gary was on top form and together with Mike they destroyed the Crow Road bowlers. A partnership of 102 was made before Mike was given LBW (again) for 106. A fine and responsible innings for the skipper. The score had now moved to 198 for 8 and Marress were looking good.
In came Josh Taylor next and he was very nervous( sweat was dripping down his neck) as he took his guard. Josh was desperate for some runs as he had shown during the week that he was a good batsman, yet he had only managed to score 1 run in matches. Josh steadied himself as he faced his first delivery and he hit the best shot of the day to the boundary, quickly followed by another. He received a standing ovation from the grandstand as he lashed the ball all over the pitch. The next man out was Gary McMeeking for an excellent personal best of 42.
This introduced the last pairing and they added a few more runs before Josh Taylor was bowled for 15, another personal best.
Marress were finally all out for 218.
After another fantastic tea Marress set about their business in attempting to bowl their opposition out.
Mike Ingram & Josh Conway opened the bowling and had no luck, the score moved onto 53 before their was finally a break through made, it came in the way of the Doctor (Chatty) he cleaned bowled the opener. (you have to bowl them out or catch them as no LBW are ever given it seems). Chatty quickly made his second breakthrough and we had them 62 for 2.
Was the Marress going to get the 3rd win of the season??????????
David Ingram came on at the other end and very quickly had a spell of bowling worthy of any league, he had 3 batsmen in the clubhouse within 5 overs and Crow Road were reeling at 87 for 5.
Another wicket by Chatty and they were 87 for 6.
After several bowling options were used Marress finally made another breakthrough with Chatty getting his 4th and final wicket of the day and this left Crow Road on 127 for 7. A quicker delivery by Craig Sharpe saw him take the next wicket and they were 127 for 8.
Victory was getting closer, although at this stage their were only 6 over to go.
Sadly only one more opportunity presented itself, but this was dropped and Crow Road survived to the end and scraped a draw.
A very good all round performance and a special mention must go to the nominated Man of the Match GARY McMEEKING for his excellent 42.
Well done lads.
Mike Ingram
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