CRICKET — Inverclyde Narrowly Defeated At Gourock Park

3 August, 2021 | Sport

Vale of Leven 175 for 8 (25 pts)
Inverclyde 163 for 6 (7 pts)

INVERCLYDE lost out by 13 runs chasing a challenging target set by Vale of Leven.

A major factor in the defeat was an uncharacteristically poor fielding display by the locals in the opening 15 overs of the visitors’ innings, when they failed to take any of the several chances offered by the batsmen, and with some slack bowling and fielding gifting runs to the Dunbartonshire side.

Vale’s opening batsmen made a good start with 41 runs from the first 10 overs, but the first wicket fell at 43 in the 11th over when the visiting captain Millier was bowled by first change bowler Chris Dick.

However it was a further 13 overs before the next wicket was to fall when Inverclyde captain Gareth James struck with two wickets in his ninth over, firstly when Dalby was caught by Dick in mid wicket at the second attempt for 28 and then when Dick held a spectacular one-handed catch to remove opener Lawrence for 54.

James was unfortunate not to gain a triple wicket maiden when he was no-balled on the last ball of the over for overstepping the crease, when Bates pushed the ball to Tom Watson at silly mid-off.

Vale were on 117 for 3 after 25 overs, but Inverclyde then fought back over the next 10 overs, mainly through the success of Stewart Blair’s medium pace bowling.

Firstly he bowled Bates for 16, Lawrence was then caught at mid-on by Cammy Gunn, and McCallum and Stavert were further catch victims to Dick and Gunn. Vale had lost 6 wickets for 28 runs at 145 for 7 after 35 overs.

However Djoncke held the visitors’ lower order together and added useful runs, as only one further wicket was to fall, a James catch off Paul Singh, as Vale reached 175 for 8 after 40 overs.

Blair finished with 4 for 21, James 2 for 39, Singh 1 for 41, Dick 1 for 33, plus his three catches, while Ally Haw bowled well in his 10-over spell for 37 runs.

Inverclyde’s regular opening bowler Tom Watson was only able to complete two overs at the end of the innings as he had been delayed through work commitments, and only conceded three runs in those overs, suggesting that this had been fortunate for the visitors.

In reply Inverclyde’s opening batters faced the very accurate and experienced Stavert and Dalby, with only six runs being scored from the first seven overs. However Cammy Gunn and Dave Cooke upped the run rate until Gunn was well caught at deep mid-wicket by Millier for 33 at 48 for 1 in the 15th over.

Cooke was then unfortunate to play on to his stumps for 18 just as he was taking over the attack to the opposition at 61 for 2 after 21 overs. Douglas Pilkington and Ally Haw, in his first league appearance of the season, took the score to 105 in the 30th over when Pilkington was caught at third man for 23.

With the run rate increasing, Haw and Singh then forced the pace, taking the score to 154 after 38 overs but Singh was then bowled for 28. Vale spread their fielders in the final overs to prevent further boundaries as Haw and James added nine runs but James was run out, leaving 12 runs for victory from the last over.

However Haw was bowled on the third ball of the 40th over, attempting to hit the boundary, for a fine 54 runs that had come close to wining the match for Inverclyde, as the innings closed 13 runs short of victory at 163 for 6.

Inverclyde were disappointed to fall short and will rue the missed chances early in the match but will be encouraged by the positive response by the team to get back into the game to get close to victory.

Inverclyde are away to Helensburgh side Ardencaple on Saturday, with coaching continuing for juniors from noon to 1.30 at Gourock Park.

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