Inverclyde Now Logo CRICKET — Inverclyde Just Miss Out In High-Scoring Match Against Bute

10 July, 2018 | Local

Bute 267 for 5

Inverclyde 261 for 9

INVERCLYDE just failed in their bid to pass a challenging total set by Bute in a high-scoring and exciting league match at Bute’s second ground at Toward Point.

However Inverclyde held out in the last over to secure a draw to keep them above Bute in the League.

Batting first on their artificial wicket, the Bute openers had a good start until Stobart gloved Scott Campbell’s rising delivery to wicketkeeper Dave Mudie. Crump then misread Cammy Gunn’s slower ball to be caught by Iain Gibson at point. However McKinney and Goan batted well for the home team until McKinney was well caught at mid-wicket by Inverclyde captain Dave Cooke for 67 off Dave Mudie’s medium-pace bowling.

Junior Sam Hargie took his first senior wicket when Bute captain Fielding holed out to Cooke at extra cover, and Elizabeth McInnes’s sharp return from extra cover ran out Wilson. McInnes also bowled well in her two overs, conceding only nine runs as Bute were trying to put runs on the board.

In what was to be an important point in the match, Goan survived a confident stumping appeal by Gunn while batting well in the eighties, and he then scored some late runs to finish on 117 not out with his side closing on 267 for 5 in 40 overs.

Inverclyde’s opening batsmen were positive from the start with Greer Church and Cooke putting on 45 for the first wicket before Church was stumped for 19. Gunn continued the attack but was bowled for 16. Cooke’s half century came up as Inverclyde reached 112 for 2 after 20 overs, with the required run rate now at eight an over. Cooke departed after a fine captain’s innings of 62 at 125 for 3.

Douglas Pilkington and Campbell then kept up with the run rate in a fine fourth wicket partnership worth 110 until Pilkington was run out for 45 at 235 for 4 in the 36th over. Gareth James joined Campbell and took the score to 258 with two overs to go, with now only 10 runs required, and Inverclyde set for victory.

However Inverclyde then lost five wickets in seven balls as they tried to reach the target. Deans bowled a match-saving 39th over in which four wickets fell. Campbell was bowled for a 67, then James was run out next ball, leaving the tail-enders a difficult task. The ninth wicket fell on the first ball of the 40th over.

Gibson and McInnes tried to hit the winning runs in the next two balls, but then batted out the remaining deliveries to secure the draw and deny Bute the win points, in a game in which it would have been harsh not to take anything, with more than 530 runs scored in the 80 overs played.

Junior practices continue on Tuesdays at Gourock Park from 6 to 8 pm, while the senior practices are on Thursdays from 6.30 to 8pm.

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