Prestwick Cricket Club seal promotion with win over Fauldhouse

Sep 9 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

GAVIN PITT insists Prestwick Cricket Club are on a winner – no matter what happens with league reorganisation.

The Henry Thow Oval men crushed Fauldhouse by 97 runs in a promotion play-off at Penicuik on Saturday.

The prize should be a place in the national leagues but with the future make-up of the game still up in the air, Prestwick’s destination is unclear.

Skipper Pitt said: “No matter what is decided, we will still be playing in a higher standard of league.

“If it’s not national league, and the game goes back regional, we’ll be in the Western Union. Whatever happens will suit us much better.

“We’ve had a good season, winning the league, then the play-off and reaching the semi-final of the SCU Trophy. The 2nd X1 also finished mid table.”

Prestwick made a slow start and were toiling at 42-4 before Calum Rodger and Craig Morrison took them to 98-5.

Morrison (63) and David Carlyle (42) then put on 86 for the sixth wicket to advance the score to 184-5.

The total of 222-8 on a wet wicket was always going to be enough and when Derek Pettigrew ripped in with 5-27, Fauldhouse were skittled for 125 in the 26th over.

lPrestwick’s Samantha Haggo top scored with 41 as Scotland women lost by three wickets to Staffordshire at Stirling on Saturday. On Sunday, 18-year-old Samantha hit 14 and took two wickets as the Scots lost by 20 runs in a re-match.

lThere is a strong Ayrshire contingent in the Western Union under 21 team to play the Bradford league for the Bill Young Trophy at East Brierley on Sunday.

Ayr’s Andi McElnea and Neil Smith are joined by Prestwick’s Calum Rodger and former Oval star Willie Rowan, now of Greenock.

lAyr under 18s beat Uddingston in their final game of the season.