Cricket: Ayr for stop the rot with victory over Ferguslie

Jul 25 2008

SKIPPER Phil Wilson hailed Ayr for stopping the rot of six league defeats on the spin and challenged them to start climbing.

Wilson cleaned up the Ferguslie tail with 4-12 as the Cambusdoon men sneaked home by 18 runs on a wet Meikleriggs wicket.

But the captain claimed the game should never have started and feared conditions were dangerous as the ball flew off the track.

He said: “We had got into the habit of losing so it was important to win and cement fifth place in the league. We are now eight points ahead of Heriot’s who we have still to play at home in a key game so it’s a good chance to get a move on.

“However, I didn’t think the game should have been played as water had got under the covers at night and one end was wet which meant it was both unsafe and a lottery. The ball was flying up hitting fingers and ribs but we dug in well.”

Ayr were put in to bat and despite losing pro Matt Horne for only four in the first over fought their way to 100-9 in a match reduced to 30 overs per side.

Sixteen-year-old Neil Smith top scored with a valiant 24 on a wicket giving help to the bowlers especially from the end with the wet area.

In the Ferguslie innings, Ayr struck early with Horne removing captain Stuart Murray in the first over, one of four wickets for the Kiwi professional. Ayr kept chipping away, taking wickets at regular intervals before Wilson took four to wrap up the win.

The Cambusdoon XI also recorded a good win at home to Bothwell. A tidy bowling display saw the visitors dismissed for 130, Alan Martin 4-35 and Fraser Murray 3-34 causing most of the damage. In reply, skipper Alan McCrossin led from the front, top scoring with 65 as the home team reached 131-5.

This weekend sees Ayr with a double header at home to Watsonians on Saturday and Scotland U19s on Sunday, matches sponsored by Norman Wilson and Andrew Baird. The Cambusdoon XI are away to Glenpark on Saturday and Poloc on Sunday.

PRESTWICK hope to pull clear of the Second Division basement zone when they entertain bottom dogs Edinburgh on Saturday.

The Oval side still trail fifth bottom Falkland by a point after their trip to Fife was washed out last weekend shortly after they set off.

Skipper Fraser Macdonald said: “Hopefully we can get a strong side out this week and target the win of which we are well capable. We have a few boys back from holiday so that should help.”

The 2nd X1 were crushed by 201 runs at home to Active Life Club. The Paisley side raced to 275-8 with skipper Phil Stafford top bowler with 3-81. In reply, Prestwick were skittled for 74 with George Watson top scoring with 14.

Stafford said: “We had a young and inexperienced side as a sympton of the problem of unavailable players. If the first team are short, it weakens the seconds and although the firsts were rained off, it would have been unfair to change the team.”

The 3rd X1 were awarded the points after opponents Helensburgh failed to show for Sunday’s match.

The under 18s beat Clydesdale on Monday. Scores: Clydesdale 117-5; Prestwick 118-2 (Darren Thomson 68 not out, Craig Morrison 35).

Meanwhile, teenager Willie Rowan was a hero with bat and ball as Scotland beat Denmark in the European Under 17 Championships in Ireland last week.

He was top bowler with 3-37 in ten overs to dismiss the Danes for 193. Then he shared in a ninth wicket partnership of 32 with Sam Hunt to steer the Scots home after they stumbled to 162-8.

Fixtures: Saturday: 1st X1 v Edinburgh (h); 2nd X1 v Cavaliers (a); Sunday: 3rd X1 v Weirs (h); Monday: U18 v Kilmarnock (a); U13 v Uddingston (h); Tuesday: U15s v Kilmarnock (a); Thursday: U18s v West (h).