GREENOCK lost their league match on Saturday but won through to their first cup final since 2007.
Western Premiership Two
Greenock 117 all out in 25 overs (1 point)
East Kilbride 226 all out in 45.5 overs (25 points)
Greenock were soundly beaten by East Kilbride at Torrance House on Saturday.
Captain Aryan Sanghera won the toss and inserted East Kilbride. The decision paid off as the home team were soon 17 for 2 early in the eighth over with Fahimgul Dinarkheil and Cammy Calder each with a wicket
By the start of the 21st over, East Kilbride had moved on to 74 but had lost two more wickets as change bowler Chirag Pandher had picked up the wickets of Kampman (13) and Abbasi (39).
A 56-run fifth wicket partnership between De Villiers and Meikle had boosted East Kilbride’s score to 130 by the 25th over. However, Greenock made some significant breakthroughs.
Firstly, De Villiers was caught by Mu Ahmadzai off the bowling of Dinarkheil for 55 runs, having scored almost all of his runs in boundaries or ‘sixes’.
In the next over, Mu Ahmadzai had Meikle caught by Sam Sanghera and followed next ball with new batsman Pietersen caught by Chirag Pandher.
So, in the space of two overs, East Kilbride slumped from 130 for 4 to the position of 130 for 7, looking as though they could be bowled out for around 150.
However, Greenock failed to drive home this good position. Instead, East Kilbride added another 96 runs for the last three wickets and recovered to 226 all out in the 46th over.
Jack Loram with 57 and number ten batter David Doyle 22 not out changed the game and their efforts took East Kilbride to a very commanding and challenging total.
Mubi Ahmadzai with 4 for 30 was the most successful bowler and there were two wickets apiece for Fahimgul Dinarkheil and Chirag Pandher.
In reply, Greenock made a a good start with Callum Henry and Aryan Sanghera posting a good 50-run opening partnership, but Sanghera’s dismissal for 15 at 64 started a run of wickets. Thereafter, the innings quickly fell apart with no other batsman able to support Henry who was in fine form and scoring freely.
Greenock were eventually bowled out with the last ball of the 25th over for 117. Opening bat Callum Henry scored 65. Pietersen 4 wickets for 27 and Mahmood 4 for 14 were the main architects of Greenock’s demise.
Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Greenock 167 for 6 wickets from 35.1 overs
Strathmore 163 for 9 wickets from 40 overs
Greenock reached the final of the CS Challenge Cup when Callum Henry’s fine unbeaten 84 saw them to a four-wicket victory over Strathmore.
The visitors batted first and lost two early wickets when Ahmed and Kiyani were dismissed within the first six overs with only 24 runs on the scoreboard.
Greenock gained the key wicket of South African batsman Rhys Tweedy when Chirag Pandher had him caught at point by Mu Ahmadzai for 32 in the 17th over.
Thereafter Greenock continued to regularly disrupt the Strathmore innings with wickets while the visitors made steady progress to post 163 for 9 in their 40 overs.
Cammy Calder with 3 for 28 was the most successful bowler, while Fahimgul Dinarkheil took 2 for 35. There was also one wicket apiece for Greg McDougall, Chirag Pandher and Sehmat Pandher.
Greenock’s reply got off to a fine start with Callum Henry and Aryan Sanghera putting together another half-century opening partnership. The pair had taken Greenock’s score to 74 before Sanghera was bowled for 24 at the start of the 16th over by Saeed.
A couple of overs later and Greenock were two wickets down when Harry Briggs was adjudged caught behind the wicket down the leg side by wicketkeeper /captain Uthman Ahmed.
However, Will Jenkins continued the good start, and he and Henry put on 52 runs in a third-wicket partnership which ended when Lorenzo Spyer trapped him leg before wicket for 26 at the end of the 28th over.
Jenkins’ dismissal with the score on 130 heralded a run of wickets which brought Strathmore back into the game. But Callum Henry continued to dominate play and, partnered by Chirag Pandher, his innings took Greenock to a fine win.
Henry scored 84 runs from 100 balls during his chanceless innings. With three catches behind the stumps during the Strathmore innings, plus his part in a run out, he was easily man of the match.
Greenock now play Edinburgh CC in the final of the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup on Sunday 17 August, at Stenhousemuir Cricket Club’s ground, The Tryst, in Larbert.
