Prestwick start cricket season with win

Apr 29 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR’S Cambusdoon XI got their league campaign in the new SNCL Reserve League underway with a narrow victory against Shawholm in a match reduced to 36 overs due to Saturday’s early morning rain.

Batting first, they scored 149-8 with Alan McCrossin, Ross Mitchell and Richie Borland all making decent contributions.

In reply, Shawholm were always up with the run rate, but the regular loss of wickets saw them requiring 10 runs off the last two overs with only two wickets remaining.

Borland claimed a scalp with the first ball of the over and then a mix up between the Shawholm batsmen resulted in a run out to claim victory for Cambusdoon. Elliot Speirs was pick of the home bowlers with 3-18.

Local Life Ayr played their final warm-up before the start of the league, with a friendly against West of Scotland at Cambusdoon.

The visitors batted first and scored 170-7 in their 40 overs with two wickets each for Andi and Scott McElnea and Luke Speirs.

The Ayr reply got off to a steady start with an opening stand of 52 between Andi McElnea and Callum McLaughlin before McElnea was bowled for 21.

His wicket was followed by that of Alan Davidson (21) and Dougie Johnstone (13) and then McLaughin who completed his first 50 for the 1st XI before eventually falling for 67 as the home team were left requiring 10 to win off the last over, but fell three runs short finishing on 169-5.

Local Life Ayr begin their SNCL campaign this weekend by hosting Watsonians, in a game sponsored by Buzzworks.

MGM Prestwick are off to a flier in the Western Union after routing Helensburgh by 55 runs at the Henry Thow Oval.

In a match reduced to 35 overs-a-side because of rain, Prestwick batted first and were dismissed for 160 with Fraser MacDonald top scoring with 42.

Helensburgh made a hot start in reply and raced to 38-1 after four overs before they were penned back. Veteran bowler Phil Stafford led the way with 3-12 as the visitors crumbled to 105 all out in 26.1 overs.

Fixtures: Saturday: 1st XI v GHK (a), sponsored by Frankie and Benny’s; St Ninians XI v Strathclyde (h), sponsored by Booker Cash and Carry. Sunday: Sunday XI v Clydesdale (h), sponsored by Lines Construction; Tuesday, May 3: St Ninians XI v Shawholm (a), sponsored by Frankie and Benny's.