Ayrshire cricket sides suffer mixed fortunes

Jul 1 2011 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR enjoyed mixed fortunes as they played host to Greenock and Dumfries in the Murgitroyd T20 Festival.

The first game of the round robin format saw Local Life Ayr take on Greenock, who were restricted to 107-6. Scott McElnea was top bowler with 3-11.

The Ayr reply stuttered after a promising start and fell behind the run rate with a flurry of wickets seeing them fall short on 90-7. Top performers were Michael Papps (36) and debutant Chris Preece (29 n.o).

The second game between the visiting clubs ended in a comfortable victory for Greenock as they chased down the Dumfries total of 117-8 with almost three overs to spare.

The final game saw Dumfries bat first against Ayr and some tight bowling saw them held to 81-8.

Chris Preece was top bowler with 3-20. Ayr reached their target for the loss of four wickets, Preece again in the runs with 34.

The Cambusdoon XI had a comfortable victory over Titwood in the Strathclyde League on Sunday at Cambusdoon.

The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 146, a target reached in quick time by the Cambusdoon men in 24 overs.

Richie Borland top scored with 64 not out and was well supported by Matthew McClymont (40) and David Baines (23 n.o.)

Three junior games beat the weather saw victories for all the Ayr teams.

The under 11s beat Clydesdale by 70 runs, while the under 18s had a comfortable victory at home to Greenock.

The under 13s beat West of Scotland as they scored 110-3 with Suja Khan (30 retired) and Ivan Craig (27) top batsmen.

West were then restricted to 73-8 with Craig completing a good all round performance finishing with figures of 3-7.

This weekend sees Local Life Ayr away to Greenock on League duty on Saturday. They then head to Edinburgh on Sunday as they take on Watsonians in the Scottish Cup.

The Cambusdoon XI are at home to Moorcroft.

MGM PRESTWICK were forced to endure another Saturday on the sidelines as rain put paid to their game at Helensburgh in the Western Union Premiership.

However, the Oval’s second string scored a fine victory on home soil against Motherwell, with batsman Kevin Lawler leading the way.

The Yorkshireman crashed a sublime 137 as Prestwick scored 272-6 off their 50 overs. Findlay MacDougall chipped in with 43 not out.

In reply, Motherwell were skittled out for 178, with Shaz Rafiq (5-35) and Dilip Mishra (3-20) among the wickets.

Prestwick’s first team play host to GHK this Saturday, while the second XI travel to Strathclyde.

The under 18s are in action at home to Greenock on Monday.