Inverclyde 135 all out
Ardencaple 136 for 8
INVERCLYDE were unfortunate to lose by two wickets, away to a strong Helensburgh second team Ardencaple.
Batting first, Inverclyde progressed to 50 for 3, after Gareth James was bowled for 13, and then 95 for 4 when Ishaan Nayak was bowled after another fine innings of 36. However two further wickets fell quickly, including Gordon Lappin for 10, Inverclyde now at 99 for 6.
Asad Nasairi scored 26 late runs, helped by Krishna Nayak and Zander Lovell, but the innings came to end in the 39th over, the total on 135 all out.
James and Nasairi opened the bowling and made early inroads into the home side’s top order, three wickets falling in the first nine deliveries, including Sadiq Safi’s sharp one-handed catch at square leg. Ardencaple were at 7 for 3.
However Gillett led the fight-back with a good innings of 40 runs until Ibrahim Hadairi took his wicket as Nasairi held the catch at deep mid wicket. Inverclyde’s captain James sustained an injury and could only complete four of a possible eight overs and this was to prove important to the outcome.
Wicketkeeper Lappin held two catches as the home side fell to 95 for 6, but only two further wickets were to fall as Ardencaple scraped through to victory in the 35th over. Nasairi completed a fine all-round display with four wickets for 32, James one for seven, Hadairi one for 20, Safi one for 29, Ishaan Nayak one for 33.
Inverclyde’s next match is a third consecutive away fixture, at East Kilbride on Sunday.
