Cricket: Poloc pile on agony for Ayr

Aug 8 2008

AYR are licking their wounds after falling by 11 runs away to Poloc.

Winning the toss and putting the home side into bat, Ayr got off to a good start and soon had Poloc in trouble with Matt Horne taking 3-14.

The Shawholm side were eventually bowled out for 133 with Douglas Johnstone again in the wickets taking 3-19. There were also good bowling performances from Callum Leck and 16-year-ld Scott McElnea who was making his league debut.

Ayr's reply got of to a good start reaching 39 when Horne was caught on the boundary for 29. A flurry of quick wickets soon had the Cambusdoon men reeling before Niall McCrossin got them back on track with 45 before he was out still needing 20 runs for victory.

However, they were unable to get over the finishing line in a game they should have won, finishing 12 runs short after being dismissed for 122.

The Cambusdoon XI were held to a draw at home to Glasgow University Staff. The home team batted first and after the loss of two early wickets, Colin McCrossin hit a fine 128 to see them to 234 all out.

McCrossin was ably supported by Neil Logan with 35 and Ross Mitchell 32. The men from Glasgow were never up with the required run rate in their chase and ended up well short of their target on 144-7.

The under 11s ran up 121-5 with Sean McCrone hitting 16 not out. In reply, West were 86-7 (Luke Johnstone 2-9, Robbie Henderson 2-10).

On Saturday, Ayr are at home to Heriot’s in a match sponsored by Colin McCrossin of Slater Hogg and Howison. On Thursday, they are away to West of Scotland in the West League Cup semi final. The Cambusdoon XI are away to Ferguslie on Saturday.

The following week sees international cricket back at Cambusdoon with Scotland playing Kenya in two one day internationals on August 12 and 13.

PRESTWICK pro Dhanuka Pathirana hit a quickfire 86 but was still a loser as the Oval team fell by 11 runs away to Corstorphine.

On a wicket which was under water the day before, the capital side set a target of 153-7 off their 50 overs with Richard More hitting an unbeaten 79.

In reply, Prestwick were bowled out for 142 with just eight balls remaining. Only Willie Rowan (18) and Kevin Lawler (13) offered Pathirana any support as eight other players mustered only a miserly 16 runs.

Skipper Fraser Macdonald said: “Dhanuka’s innings was something special- he was hitting their pro on to the roof of the school.”

The 3nd X1 crashed by seven wickets at home to Queen’s Park on Sunday despite a sparkling 84 by Kevin Lawler.

That helped Prestwick to 177-8. In reply, Queens eased home at 179-3 with Jacob Stafford taking 2-20.

The under 15s had a good win away to Kilmarnock last midweek. Ross Patterson hit 55 of Prestwick’s 113-8. Killie replied at 78-5 with Alan McDonald taking 3-30.

Fixtures: Friday: U15s v East Kilbride (h); U11s v Motherwell (a); Saturday: 1st X1 v Dunfermline (a); 2nd X1 v Kilmarnock (h); Sunday: 3rd X1 v Dumfries (a); Monday: U18s v Poloc (h); U13s v West of Scotland (a); Wednesday: U15s v Ferguslie (a).