FOLLOWING Greenock’s convincing win over Kilmarnock at Glenpark on Sunday in the last 16 of the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup, the teams meet again this weekend.
The contest on Saturday will be on league business, with Greenock travelling to the Scott Ellis Oval in Kilmarnock. When the teams met in early May at Glenpark, Greenock were defeated.
But the Glenpark side have the initiative following the very convincing win last Sunday in the CS Challenge Cup. They will field a strong team which should be good enough to bring back the points.
Aussie amateur Callum Henry was back on form last Sunday scoring an unbeaten 53 runs, and he was ably supported by Sehmat Pandher who scored a quick-fire 14 runs, and Cammy Calder who was 15 not out, as Greenock easily overcame Kilmarnock’s total of 98.
Calder also showed his ability as an opening pace bowler. His initial four-over salvo had Kilmarnock’s top order in difficulty from his first ball. His speed, length and line quickly brought him success and put the team on the path to victory, as he dismissed both Kilmarnock openers with less than a dozen runs scored.
Greenock’s bowling attack proved too strong for the Killie batting line-up with only South African amateur Daniel Lombard showing any resistance. Lombard may well be the key man to remove on Saturday, as the remainder of the East Ayrshire side’s batters have failed to show any consistency in run scoring in the league in the first half of the season.
Missing will be Greenock’s second Aussie amateur Will Jenkins who has shown himself to be a useful all-rounder for the side.
The match is at noon. The team will be: AS Sanghera (Capt), M Ahmadzai, M Anwar, CS Calder, F Dinarkhel, CJ Henry (Wk), N Kadyan, K Leema, GJ McDougall, CS Pandher, SS Pandher. Scorer: K Atkins
Glenpark XI: Greenock’s 2nd XI, Glenpark, hope to continue their fine league form as they host Galloway at Glenpark at noon on Saturday. Unbeaten in the league throughout the first half of the season, the team is joint leader of the Western Championship Three. Team captain Eddie Ahmad has been a key player for the side and is the team’s top run scorer. Last Saturday, against Kilmarnock 2nd XI, he built a fine partnership of 101 runs for the third wicket with Usman Mansoor which put the team well on the road to the innings total of 203 for 9 which proved too great for the visitors. The team is: M Ahmad (Capt), Y Hayat, R Kumar, M Mansoor, U Mansoor, A Nair, H Safi, R Safi, S Safi, D Sharma, M Zeeshan. 12th Man: I Haidary
Hillend XI: Greenock’s Hillend XI host Irvine Spartans in a Sunday League fixture at Glenpark. The team’s record is played one and won one, which was against Uddingston in mid-June. The match is at 1pm. The team will be: R Kumar (Capt), M Anwar, C Calder, K Leema, Y Hayat, Ibrahim, U Mansoor, Moiz, E Norris, Rokhan, M Zeeshan.
Greenock Cricket Club is sponsored by Cleaning Supplies 4U
