CRICKET — Winning Start For InverclydeInverclyde — 131 all out (25 pts)
Hillhead 2nd X1 — 71 all out (0 pts)
IN their first match since 2019, Inverclyde had a winning start to the season with a fine team performance against Hillhead Seconds in this Division Three fixture at Gourock Park.
The visitors won the toss and asked the locals to bat first on the slow wicket. However Inverclyde’s openers Dave Cooke and Cammy Gunn batted well against the accurate bowling attack until Cooke was bowled for 17 at 37 for 1 in the 14th over.
David Thomson joined Gunn in an important second-wicket partnership that added 45 runs in good time until Thomson was bowled in the 24th over with the score on 82 for 2.
Douglas Pilkington further supported Gunn who passed his half-century in the 30th over. He was dismissed for 51, which included six boundaries, in the next over when he was caught at gully after mistiming his cut shot.
Pilkington hit three boundaries in an attempt to increase the run rate in the closing overs but was well caught at point for 16 at 114 for 4 in the 34th over.
Tommy McDade, Gareth James and Stuart Callison added some useful runs in the closing overs but six wickets fell cheaply, including two run-outs, in a late search for runs, and the innings closed in the 40th over when Callison was caught in the covers leaving Inverclyde all out for 131.
With a relatively small total to defend, Inverclyde needed a good start from their opening bowlers but the Hillhead batsmen settled in well.
Their partnership was worth 49 runs in 14 overs, and the visitors were on course for victory, when first change-bowler Elizabeth McInnes turned the tide over her next three overs when she took three wickets for three runs.
Firstly, she had hard-hitting Collins well caught for 30 by Gunn at deep square leg. Then, in her next over, she bowled Jain and then had Vijay caught at point by Thomson.
In the meantime, captain Gareth James had bowled his counterpart Thornhill with the ball of the match that took the top of off the stump.
From 49 for no wicket after 14 overs the visitors had slumped to 55 for 4 after 19 overs, with Inverclyde now in a strong position.
After a disappointing opening spell, changing ends brought its rewards for Paul Singh who then bowled both opener Dabell and Mair, with the visitors in disarray at 55 for 6.
Tom Watson and James both held good caught-and-bowled chances, then Billy Hair had Butt caught behind by Pilkington.
James rounded off a fine display by the local side when he bowled Murray with the visitors all out for 71 in the 26th over. James finished with 3 for 9, McInnes 3 for 14, Singh 2 for 24, with one apiece for Watson and Hair.
Captain Gareth James was pleased with the winning start to the season with a good squad performance, in the first match for 21 months.
Inverclyde meet local rivals Glenpark on Saturday in their next game.
