Last weekend the family of the popular Clydesdale CC and Scotland all-rounder Con de Lange launched a campaign to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity after news of Con’s condition was made public.  Con was diagnosed with a brain tumour ten months ago and it has been a tough journey for the well liked Clydesdale player/coach and Scotland vice-captain.

Since launching the Just Giving Page the family has raised over £8,900 with the community coming together to support the cause.

Sarah Lindsell, The Brain Tumour Charity’s chief executive, said: “Our warmest wishes and support are with Con de Lange after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“We are so grateful that he and his wife Claire are fundraising for us to help us in our mission to defeat this brutal disease.

“Like Con, 31 people a day will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumour – that’s over 11,400 a year – and our five-year research strategy A Cure Can’t Wait aims to double survival within ten years and halve the harm brain tumours have on quality of life.”

There is still time to donate to this worthy cause and that can be done by following the link below.

Click here to donate

Livingston CC are on the lookout for an enthusiastic and energetic development officer to deliver their club development plans in 2019 and beyond.  Please have a look at the role attached below and If you feel you fit the bill please contact Paul Burgess the Livingston CC secretary.

Livingston Cricket Club, Development Officer Role

Continuing our offering of league reports. here is the First Division report from CMC member Sai Majeed.

2018 was one of the best summers for a long time, surprisingly there was still a number of games rained off, with most clubs completing thirteen or fourteen games out of a possible eighteen other than GHK CC who completed fifteen.

Drumpellier CC wrapped up the First Division title with a week to spare when their game with Renfrew CC was washed out. The strength of the Drumpellier team was their bowling and fielding as they managed to bowl their opponents out in every game completed, losing only their first game of the season, a low-scoring game lost by 2 runs to Stenhousemuir CC chasing 72. Left-arm medium pacer Darren Pryde topped the bowling in the division with a staggering 38 wickets, off just 107.1 overs at an average of 8.53, with his team-mate, off-spinner Mohsin Khan picking up an impressive 30 wickets in taking their team to the title.  Darren Pryde also had the distinction of having the best figures in an innings with a “6 for” off seven overs for just 12 runs.  There were five other players picking up “6 for’s”.

Early pacesetters, and favourites, Kelburne CC fell away dramatically in the second half of the season, impacted by their Professional being called up for international duty, and losing to the three bottom teams eventually to compound a disappointing end to the season for them.

East Kilbride CC, another favourite for promotion, were always there-or-thereabouts and clinched second spot even though they lost their final game of the season to third-placed Stenhousemuir who mounted a late challenge for one of the two top spots. East Kilbride’s strength was their batting, racking up some impressive totals – two over 300 – with a highest of 354 when they defeated Glasgow Accies CC by 240 runs. 2018 was a superb first season for opening batsman Imran Mughal who finished with 638 runs from fourteen innings, at an average of 49.08, with a highest score of 164.  He was closely followed by his skipper Moneeb Iqbal who managed 576 runs from thirteen innings, at an average of 52.46, with the highest score in the division of 180.

There was a three-way battle for the bottom two spots with Glasgow Accies and GHK CC eventually occupying these places on the final Saturday.  Glasgow Accies actually defeated GHK in the last game, both teams going in to the game requiring a win and a Helensburgh CC loss to escape the bottom two places.  Helensburgh did lose their final game after skittling out Weirs CC for just 49, only to be shot out for 47 themselves, but managed to pick up 9 points to escape the bottom two positions.

All in all, a competitive division with high-scoring and low-scoring games throughout the season, and a number of impressive performances with the overseas players all making major contributions for their teams, Rushdie Jappie of Stenhousemuir, in particular, topped the run-scoring charts with an impressive 707 runs from fifteen innings, at an average of 64.27, with a top score of 127. Rushdie Jappie also racked up 36 wickets with his wily off spin to, clearly, be the top batter and all-rounder in the division.  Ahmed Said of Renfrew, having led the run-scoring table for a while, was unable to add to his total in the final two weeks as he had to leave early, and finished on 637 runs – with the top average of 91 – and was the only player to score two centuries during the course of the league season in Division 1 (out of a total eleven centuries in the division).

Mohammed Umair Khan of East Kilbride, having led the wickets table most of the season, eventually took third place in this list with a well deserved 34 wickets, with his pace bowling.  Drumplellier’s overseas amateur Ryno Marais capped a fine season with 21 catches and six stumpings, with the gloves.

Stenhousemuir Cricket Club is on the lookout for a player/coach to take the club forward into 2019.  If you think you are the right person to help Stenhousemuir achieve its playing, development and coaching goals then please email Iain McDonlad at the email address in the attached job advert.

Stenhousemuir CC Player Coach Advert 2019 Season

This is a reminder that the first out of season forum will be held this Sunday at Poloc CC.  Clubs are reminded that they can send two representatives to participate in the forum. The session will allow club representatives to reflect on the season past, identify what went well or not so well and identify what they think are areas of improvement for cricket in the west going forward.

Please see below a poster for Ammar Ashraf promoting the forthcoming Tapeball League. Looks like great fun, so pull your team together, get in touch with Ammar and get involved!

More league reports from the CMC. This time Jim Murphy from Inverclyde CC files his Fourth Division report.

In a comparatively dry season (only thirteen matches lost to the rain), congratulations go to the division winners Vale of Leven CC. They lost only one match, an early season reverse at the hand of Bees, who finished a creditable second.

With the bat centurions were Sandeep Dhaliwal (Kirkstyle, twice), William Goan (Bute County CC, twice), Cameron Gunn (Inverclyde CC), Ilan Selby (Bees), Shakir Hussain (Glasgow South), and Tim Hart (Bees), whilst Ivan Lawrence of Vale of Leven CC had the top aggregate runs with 656.

With the ball Nikhil Koteeswaran (Bees), 5 for 25  Chris’ Holdstock (Hughenden) 5 for 9, Arron Richardson (Galloway CC) 5 for 13, Ali Khan (Hughenden), 5 for 31, Blair Dearie (Kirkstyle) 5 for 9, and Cameron Gunn (Inverclyde CC) 6 for 44 had best figures, while top in terms of aggregate wickets (21) was Ivan Lawrence of Vale of Leven CC.  It is fairly clear who the top all-rounder was in the division!  With the new points system in place for  this division and the return of the draw (eleven matches were drawn) the division was relatively competitive this season with the only slight disappointment being that  six matches were conceded.

Now Jim Hill from Kilmarnock CC provides a report from the Second Division.

Like all other divisions, clubs in the Second Division enjoyed some excellent weather during the course of the season. St. Michael’s CC won the league with a couple of matches to spare.  Key for them, were the performances with both bat and ball of overseas amateurs Joshua Niemand (536 runs and 35 wickets) and Juan Martins (525 runs and nineteen wickets). They were ably supported by Christopher Brockwell, who had an outstanding season finishing with 410 runs and 30 wickets and also Thomas Holmes who finished with twenty wickets. The tussle for the second promotion place, between Kilmarnock CC and Hillhead CC, went to the final game of the season, where Kilmarnock secured second sport with a victory over Williamfield. Both clubs had key performers over the season. For Kilmarnock both Munir Ahmed (342 runs and fourteen wickets) and Niamat Ali (310 runs and thirteen wickets) enjoyed substantial all round seasons, whilst Tom McFadzean, Alexander Gibson and Waleeb Iqbal all took twenty-plus wickets. For Hillhead Shehroz Mehmood was in excellent form scoring 522 runs and taking 23 wickets. He was well backed up by Hasan Azhar and Paul Bartlett who both scored 300-plus runs. On the bowling front both John Ferguson and Jonny Howard took twenty-plus wickets. On what was otherwise a glorious summer, it was galling that both matches between Hillhead and Kilmarnock were lost to the weather.

Langloan finished fourth in the league and set a brilliant example of 2nd XIs competing toe-to-toe with 1st XIs. Top of the tree was the batting of Allison who scored the most league runs with 562. Stephen Allison also took sixteen wickets for good measure. He was well supported by Alan Stevenson who scored 300-plus runs. Drumpellier CC must have a pretty good 1st XI if these two can’t get in!!!  Victoria CC finished fifth, with Mohammad Chaudhry scoring 400-plus runs and Ahmed Haleme taking eighteen wickets and scoring 300-plus runs respectively.

Galloway CC originally finished sixth, but were deducted 75 points for a breach of league rules and subsequently came eighth. Patrick Druce turned back the clock showing the way with bat and ball with 500 runs and nineteen wickets; followed closely by Matthew Williams and Tommy McGrath who both scored 300-plus runs. Tommy McGrath also weighed in with the ball, taking 33 wickets.

Nunholm moved up to sixth with Andrew Reed and veteran David Davidson scoring 400-plus and 300-plus runs respectively. Albert Park finished seventh, Williamfield ninth and Anniesland tenth. Mention must go to Anniesland who undoubtedly found season 2018 a difficult one. However, they played with a positive spirit at all times and hopefully good times are around the corner.

There were sixteen centuries scored over the season with Akash Rawal from Wiliamfield topping the charts with 187. The other centurions were Gordon Shaw, Shehroz Mehmood, Andrew Reed, William Leslie, Niamat Ali, David Davidson (two), Stephen Carr, Waleeb Iqbal, Mohammad Chaudhry, Jamsh Iqbal, Joshua Neimand, Stephen Allison, Robert Huxtable and Graeme McLaren. On the bowling front there were fifteen hauls of five wickets or more, with Thomas Holmes producing the best figures of 6 for 14. The others with five or more wickets were Nathan Allison, Tommy McGrath (two), Russell Murray, Shehroz Mehmood, Trevor Newport, Christopher Brockwell, Raja Safder, Jonny Howard, lamb, Atif Ahmed, Alexander Gibson and Joshua Neimand (two).

Continuing our series of league reports from Cricket Management Committee members. Today’s offering is from Duncan Paterson of Ferguslie CC.

This year the Premier Reserve League was won comprehensively by Partick (West of Scotland CC’s 2nd XI) who went the whole season unbeaten winning all fifteen of their completed fixtures. This was an excellent achievement in a very competitive league and broke the recent dominance of Titwood (Clydesdale CC’s 2nd XI) in this division who had been unbeaten in the previous two seasons. Partick’s success was built on a really strong group of players who all contributed during the season with several of the team’s players finishing at the top end of the individual run scoring and wicket taking charts. It shows the depth of talent at the club that their victories were not reliant on one or two star players but a real team ethic. Titwood pushed hard and ended in second position and confirming that Clydesdale continue to produce fine young cricketers while Meikleriggs (Ferguslie CC’s 2nd XI) came third after narrowly avoiding relegation in 2017 – an excellent turnaround for the Paisley team.

Torrance House (East Kilbride CC’s 2nd XI) toiled hard with little luck this year and found themselves in the bottom two along with Deanpark. (Renfrew CC’s 2nd XI).

Shawholm (Poloc CC’s 2nd XI) and Whitehaugh (Kelburne CC’s 2nd XI) both finished comfortably in mid-table positions and with nine and seven wins respectively and will feel they had solid seasons with plenty to build on going into next year.

David Sturgeon of Meikleriggs topped the run-scoring charts with an extremely consistent season of 563 runs which included two centuries and a 99. Jamie Cook, also of Meikleriggs, topped the wicket-takers list with 34 wickets at just over 9-a-piece with his leg-breaks, and included a magnificent seven wickets for 10 runs against Whitehaugh.  Imran Mughal from Torrance House hit an epic 215 in their game against Whitehaugh which was the top individual score of the season. David Sturgess and Paddy Barbour of Titwood, and Russell Lauder of Whitehaugh, all scored in excess of 150 in a single innings this year, amongst 22 centuries scored in the division.

Well done to all the teams and players in the Premier Reserve League this year.

The Cricket Management Committee members are compiling league reports for the season. Here is the first of them from Greenock CC’s Peter Hempsey.

Congratulations to Ferguslie CC, Premier Division Champions 2018.  In what was one of the very best summers for cricket in the west of Scotland for decades, Ferguslie CC were deserved winners. Thirteen wins from fourteen matches completed and an 94.29% total gave the Paisley side a massive 20% winning margin from runners-up Clydesdale CC who gained ten wins from fifteen matches played. Ferguslie’s only loss was against Greenock CC at Meikleriggs in early June.

At the opposite end of the table, there was a tremendous battle fought out by Greenock CC, Ayr CC and Dumfries CC which went right to the last week of the competition and resulted in Ayr and Dumfries occupying the bottom two league positions.

During the season there were numerous very fine individual performances. Champions Ferguslie had the Premier Division’s top run scorer in Michael English who racked up a massive 718 runs, which included two centuries, with team-mates Elliot Moses (544) and Gregor Preston-Jones (477) also in the league’s top ten run scorers. For the second year running, Richie Berrington (Clydesdale) was the second highest run-scorer with 625 runs.

Poloc CC’s South African pro’ Jurie Snyman had the highest two innings of the season with a remarkable 209 against Greenock and 148 not out against Stirling County CC. And in a season where there were twenty individual scores of 100 or more, Richie Berrington (Clydesdale), Jimmy Sholto-Douglas (Overseas Amateur, Uddingston CC), Anwar Hafeez (Ayr) and Coenraad Nel (Overseas Amateur, Poloc) each recorded two centuries in the Premier Division.

Champions Ferguslie had three of their bowlers in the top ten wicket-takers for the season with Hamza Tahir (25), Haroon Tahir (23) and Jamie Carruthers (22). But the top wicket-taker in the Premier Division for season 2018 was Neil Flack (Greenock) with 32 wickets. Runner-up was Ross Lyons (Uddingston) with 28 wickets, while last year’s top wicket-taker Sachin Chaudhary (Prestwick CC) was third with 26 wickets.

On the very last day of the season Alan Davidson (Dumfries CC) returned the most outstanding bowling figures of the 2018 season with eight wickets for just 19 runs from eight overs against Ayr at Nunholm. Ross Lyons (Uddingston) and Rukman Hewage (Stirling County) each returned the excellent figures of 6 for 21 during the season, while Riyaad Henry (Ferguslie), Sachin Chaudhary (Prestwick) and Neil Flack (Greenock) each gained a five-wicket haul in a match.

Finally and definitely worth mentioning was the rare feat achieved by Stirling and Dumfries as they tied both matches in 2018!!