CRICKET — Inverclyde Move Up League Table After Another Home Win

LOC Hire The Tryst 72 all out (0 pts)
Inverclyde 73 for 7 (25 pts)

INVERCLYDE made it three wins in a row at Gourock Park on Saturday when they defeated Stenhousemuir seconds in a close, low-scoring game.

In recent matches it has been the batters taking the credits but this victory was down to a good bowling and fielding performance.

The visitors had a good start until Hunter was caught for 18 by Scott Campbell off Paul Singh’s bowling with the total on 28 in the eighth over. Campbell himself then took two wickets in his first over, with a catch by Billy Hair in gully and then opener Quinn skied a drive to be caught by wicket keeper David Mudie, taking Stenhousemuir to 32 for 3 after 12 overs.

Inverclyde captain Gareth James took the first of his four wickets when he bowled Atif at 38 for 4. The visitors made a brief fight back until Iftikhar was caught behind for 14 at 57 for 5. Then Quinn was bowled by Singh for 10. James and change bowler Chris Dick then finished off the innings as the visitors collapsed from 61 for 6 to 72 all out in the 31st over.

James finished with a season’s best return of 4 for 16 off 7.2 overs, Dick 2 for 7, Campbell 2 for 10, and Singh 2 for 28, while Craig Watson bowled well at the start of the innings with five economic overs.

The bowlers were well backed up by the fielders with Mudie taking two catches, and Campbell, Hair, James and Singh one apiece.

Inverclyde made a poor start to their reply chasing this low target, losing both openers with only one run on the board. The experienced Stuart Callison and Campbell steadied the innings with patient batting, taking the total to 43 in the 20th over until Campbell was trapped leg before wicket by Quinn for a crucial 17 runs which had included five boundaries.

Inverclyde then lost two further wickets with no addition to the score, leaving the locals in some trouble at 43 for 5. Hair helped the total to 56 until he was run out for five, and then Callison was caught for 13 in the 30th over at 63 for 7, after a very important anchor role in the reply.

However no further wickets were to fall as Dick secured the victory for Inverclyde in style with two boundaries in the 32nd over.

With this win, Inverclyde move up to fifth spot in the Western District Cricket Union Third Division which has 14 teams for the 2021 season.

In their next match Inverclyde are at home to GHK Strathclyde on Saturday at Gourock Park.

Coaching sessions for Inverclyde juniors continue on Saturdays from noon to 1.30pm.