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The past few days of dreich smir put paid to the chances of a full calendar of Premier league cricket being played today. Hopefully the weather pattern changes for the better soon as we have entered the business side of the season and lost games to the weather mean lost opportunities to resolve or improve positions in the league.
Drumpellier v Ayr at Langloan and GHK V Uddingston at Old Anniesland were the early casualties of the Premiership programme for the day.
Ferguslie Cricket Club v LOC Hire Stenhousemuir Cricket Club
Ferguslie were entertaining Stenhousemuir at Meikleriggs and a delayed start had the game reduced to 34 overs a side. Stenhousemuir won the toss and put Ferguslie in to bat first. Some may question Nicky Rodgers decision to bowl first, but it was the right decision – a reduced over contest and for the first time in a few weeks, an engine room of at least 6 bowlers to call upon to bowl them. The return of Zander Smith added to the talents of Husnain Atif, Nick Lister, Amir Shahzad, Praveen Pinnamaneni and Callum Grant gave Rodgers a valuable weapon to use but he needed them to bowl flatter, fuller, up-to-the-bat and definitely no width. If they did, especially against the most in-form batting line-up of the WDCU, a few early successes could restrict Ferguslie in posting a total that could cause Stenhousemuir problems trying to chase.
Husnain Atif had the ever-dangerous David Stafford (2) caught behind in the 1st over and then had Muhammed Mayet (16) caught behind in the 9th over and Ferguslie were 30-2 after 10 overs. At the other end, Nick Lister bowled his seamers with years of experience showing and was desperately unlucky to have no reward for his efforts. Atif bowled 5 overs 2-19 and Lister bowled his 7 overs with figures of 0-20.
But from here on in, the bowling became expensive as Uzair Ahmad (67no) and Taimoor Ahmad (57) rode the various Stenhousemuir bowling changes for a partnership of 123 over the next 23 overs. For the first time in a few weeks, Nicky Rodgers had a bowling attack to use and an opportunity to record a signature win against the form side in the league and how the result would impact both clubs and their respective season going forwards – his bowlers let that moment slip.
Although there was a flurry of wickets in the final three overs of the Ferguslie innings, those 3 wickets alone came at a cost of 26 runs and Ferguslie finished up being 170-5 off their 34 overs. Pinnamaneni took 1- 31 off his 4 overs while Smith was an expensive 2-39 off his 5 overs.
Ferguslie opened the bowling with Muhammed Mayet at one end and Taimoor Ahmad at the other and a 10 over spell that reduced Stehousemuir to 40-4. Peter Hamilton (6) was caught by Uzair Ahmed from a delivery from Taimoor Ahmad while Asad Izaz (2) was caught by Taimoor Ahmad off Mayet. Yasin Valli (19) clipped a ball off his legs down to a wideish fine-leg and 2 runs had been completed – he called for a 3rd but Bahadar Esakhiel was run out to a return throw to the gloves of David Stafford, a wicketkeeper that knows where the stumps are and has very quick hands, who promptly whipped the bails off with Ezakhiel inches short of the crease. A salutory lesson for young Ezakhiel to learn from perhaps that when batting with the pro, run the 1st run hard and don’t dawdle with the 2nd run – he would have made his ground for the 3rd if he had done so because he would have given himself that extra yard or so to use to his advantage. After batting so well last week with Esakhiel, you could see the dismay on Valli’s shoulders as he heard the run-out behind him and it clearly affected his batting and his game-plan – in the 12th over, he fell over himself and spooned a delivery from Daoud Tahir down the throat of Saif Sajjad at midwicket and Stenny were now 38-5.
Stenny’s reply and hopes of victory now lay on the shoulders on Callum Grant and Zander Smith having a partnership together and making a serious dent in the runs required. Grant (11) was caught behind off Jewell in the 15th over and Smith was bowled by Daoud Tahir (10) in the 18th leaving Stenny 60-7. Rodgers (5) was caught off Jewell in the 19th and Pinnamaneni (19) fell LBW to Daoud Tahir in the 22nd over and Stenhousemuir were 84-9. The longest partnership of the innings was with the last pair in Nick Lister (16 no) and Husnain Atif (5) and came to an end when Atif was caught by Adam Tahir off the bowling of young Jamie Rennie.
Jamie Rennie, Under 16 player, was handed a 1st team bowling opportunity and bowled nearly 4 overs and took 1-22 – he looks a serious talent in the making and yet further proof of the fantastic youth development structure that Ferguslie maintains but also nurtures over by giving youngsters a chance by giving them a taster of 1st team league cricket and hope that they want to aspire to playing more of. Keeps the 1st team looking over their shoulders because under-performers can be easily replaced with what they have coming through their home-grown ranks.
The pick of the Ferguslie bowling was Mayet 2-23, Jewell 2-17 and D. Tahir 3-21
Stenhousemuir were 111 all out in the 27th over and rue the opportunity they had today and didn’t use. For Ferguslie, another win under their belt and an adjustment made to their sights and the target above them in the table.
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A Farewell to WoSACO
On Friday 4th July at West of Scotland Cricket Club, the final West of Scotland Association of Cricket Officials (WoSACO) gathering took place. A last event to reminisce, remember, celebrate, enjoy and toast the last 60 odd years of what this organisation with its umpires and scorers brought to cricket in the west, to Scottish cricket and also internationally.
One of the oldest umpiring associations anywhere in the world, it had evolved over time from the fractious days of the 1890s when league cricket first started getting played with the WDCU being one of the earliest leagues formed – there was a distinct need to have neutral umpires appointed for the matches being played, a need going back over 150 years. A regular circumstance up to the formation of the WDCU in 1893 was the abandonment of games over umpiring decisions as evidenced by the attached newspaper cutting from the Daily Mail of 12th July 1875 and the days of over 2000 clubs in the west playing cricket. The WDCU tried a principled resolution but even in its earliest format, grumblings were evidenced. When you consider that these grumblings are from the 1890s and the Victorian era and then compare them to the issues of just now… and it took another 70 years for what evolved into being called WoSACO to appear to resolve those issues and stop those grumblings.
And what a fantastic job WoSACO did.
Allan Jack, as Chairman of WoSACO, gave a poignant eulogy remembering the last 60 years and also thanked everyone, past and present, for their assistance and contribution to the association and what it had delivered to cricket. This delivery will be missed (it already is and that is plain to see just now in the cricket, east and west) and that it had been an honour to be a part of it, a feeling expressed by all those that were present last night.
A phrase often expressed elsewhere never felt so aptly applicable as the evening concluded “Once it’s gone, it’s gone” – I hope that players, clubs, cricket and governing bodies now begin to appreciate what this association brought to an amateur sport and has been now lost, gone forever.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and “look to the past to find the answers for the future” are another couple of phrases that apply in my opinion.
Raise a glass, tea cup or coffee mug and toast WoSACO and thank them for what they did – believe me when I say that although you probably didn’t appreciate what it did when it was in existence but I have a feeling you’ll be wishing it was still about in the seasons yet to come. I’m honoured to have played countless games in my own career with WoSACO officials present, but I am also extremely proud to have been a WoSACO official myself and stood in numerous matches with colleagues that it has been my pleasure to stand with – thank you.
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Vigilant Dumfries Cricket Club v Kelburne Cricket
Kelburne made the journey to Nunholm and were asked to bat first by Dumfries. Although Zain Mohammad (3) was bowled by James Hobman and Kelburne were 18-1 after 7 overs, Cameron MacLean and Lucas Farndale grafted away taking the total to 57 until Farndale (08) was caught by Bainbridge from a Nairn Cubbon delivery.
Cammy MacLean (63) was bowled by Chris Brockwell and will be disappointed with himself – he had a great opportunity to score a ton today and looked well-set when out and Kelburne were 88-1 off 21 overs. Kyle Northend (13) got the score along to 113 when he was caught by Hobman off the bowling of Munro Cubbon. Evan Fouche (30) was the next wicket to fall in the 28th over caught by big Al Davidson off a Callum Reynolds-Lewis delivery and Kelburne were now 134-5 just after the halfway point in the innings.
Mo Kamran and Jamie Cook took the Kelburne total along to 156-5 in the 33rd when Brockwell struck with a two wickets in two ball combo – Kamran (12) was caught by Malik and Ross MacLean (0) was trapped LBW first ball up. At 157-7, I thought that the Kelburne innings would expire quite quickly but to be fair to the tail, they stayed around for another 11 overs and scored a further 38 runs to the total. Jamie Cook (18) was bowled by Brockwell in the 35th, Pashtoon Barak (5) was caught by Ben Plowman off Reynolds-Lewis in the 38th and the last pair of Rahim Roghani (12 no) and Joseph Silvin (2) sclaffed and scarpered a final partnership of 20 until Silvin fell LBW to the returned Hobman in the 44th over. A final total of 194 all out for Kelburne and the pick of the Dumfries bowling being Hobman with 2-21, Brockwell with 4-35 and Reynolds-Lewis with 2-29.
The Dumfries reply stuttered earlier doors with Al Davidson (0), Adam Malik (13) and Andrew Dawson (6) all falling victim to a 5 over spell of 3-16 from Rahim ‘Ozzy’ Roghani and when Pashtoon Parak had Chris Bellwood (5) caught by Jamie Cook, Dumfries were 20-4 after 10 overs.
Fergus Bainbridge (23) and Ben Plowman had a small stand of 24 but when Jamie Cook dismissed both of them in the 21st and 23rd overs respectively, Dumfries found themselves 60-6. Chris Brockwell (7) was caught by Cook off Ross MacLean in the 24th and Jamie Cook had yet another catch in 25th when he caught and bowled James Hobman (0). Dumfries were now 69-8 and a lot to ask of their remaining batting. To be fair to it, it put on another 41 runs until Nairn Cubbon was run out at 106 in the 32nd over and Callum Reynolds-Lewis (2) was last man out when LBW to Joseph Silvin in the 33rd over and Dumfries 110 all out.
Jamie Cook took 3-36 and another 3 catches to his name for the season.
Another disappointing defeat for Dumfries taking them down the table while Kelburne tossed a lifebelt and pulled themselves up the table slightly from 9th place.
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Prestwick Cricket Club v Clydesdale Cricket Club
Prestwick batted first against the league leaders and quickly found themselves in trouble after 4 overs and 7-2. Tiann Kuhn (0) was bowled by Isaac Rahman in the 2nd over and Ross Kennedy was also bowled by Rahman in the 4th over. Declan Botes (11) was bowled by Mo Ghaffar in the 11th and when Fletcher Rao (5) was stumped by Fischer-Keogh off Sahir Hussain in the 15th over followed by Euan McBeth (1) out caught by Fischer-Keogh in the 17th, Prestwick were 48-5 and it was an innings so far of appalling familiarity of recent weeks – brittle and so out of character for Prestwick Cricket Club.
Tom Fleet (9) and Sachin Chaudhary (40) had a stand that got them to 82, but when both of them also fell to the bowling of Hussain, Prestwick were 93-7. When Callan Turner (0) was bowled by Hussain and Prestwick now 93-8, any additional runs scored were going to be a bonus. Gurupreet Singh (4) was 9th down at 94 caught by Murtaza off Rafay Khan and the Prestwick innings finally closed on 97 all out after 32 overs when Dylan Thayne (2) was bowled by Ravikiran Alavala.
The pick of the Clydesdale bowling was Rahman with 2-15 and Hussain 5-31, and although there was a lengthy rain interruption during the innings, Clydesdale’s bowling looked from the outset that it would account for Prestwick quite cheaply.
Although Clydesdale’s reply saw Ali Khan (0) caught by Fleet off Kuhn in the 1st over and Lucas Fischer-Keogh (10) also caught Fleet, bowled Kuhn in the 7th over and Clydesdale 16-2, the depth of the batting of the Titwood men was always going to see them through. Hafiz Murtaza (29) was caught by McBeth of Sachin Chaudhary’s bowling in the 15th over and Clydesdale 62-3 but that was the last wicket to fall at the Henry Thow Oval today. Craig Young 24 no) and Sizwe Masondo (19) saw the visitors home in the 25th over and another 25 points secured to add to their 100% status.
Tiann Kuhn took 2-8 off his 6 overs bowled but it was another disappointing day for Prestwick as they fall to 9th in the table with 8 weeks to play.
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Joel Garner is coming to the Tryst.
The Number 1 ranked ODI fast bowler EVER will deliver a talk and answer your questions in the Clubhouse. There will be a photo opportunity and time to chat with the great man at the bar after the event.
There will be a complimentary Rum Punch as you arrive and a Caribbean Buffet served mid way. The cost of this once in a lifetime event is £40.00.
LOC Hire Stenhousemuir Cricket Club members will get first dibs on tickets – but only until 17th July when they will be available to the general public. Contact Tom Dickson tom@tdickson.co.uk for tickets — your email should have the subject Joel Garner Ticket.
This event is sponsored by Stelar Travel in conjunction with the Barbados Tourist Board.
All WDCU Clubs,
We are writing to inform you about a now critical issue currently affecting our cricket community within the Western District Cricket Union (WDCU) and across all regions. There is a significant shortage of umpires, which is impacting not only WDCU but all regions. This has had a significant impact in WDCU Prem 2 so far this season already. As a result, CSMOA are doing their upmost to manage with limited resources and therefore appreciate your understanding where umpires cannot be appointed. Only 30 umpires were available on the weekend of 31st May, with 20 plus fixtures requiring umpires across the country…
CSMOA are, as ever actively seeking new umpires and would encourage any umpires who wish to return to reach out. Courses and resources are available for those wishing to take up umpiring and we as a region are keen to point out that one solution being discussed for the future may be to revert to a former rule which meant clubs who required umpires were obliged to have club members who were active umpires.
However, it is important to highlight that one of the contributing factors to this shortage is player behaviour. Instances of disrespect and unsportsmanlike conduct towards umpires have led to many experienced officials stepping down from their roles. This is a serious concern that needs immediate attention from all clubs. We appreciate the competitive nature of the sport (especially in the West) and by no means wish to discourage this enthusiasm, but we must respect the game and those willing to give their personal time to make it possible. It is not acceptable to behave negatively towards an umpire and as a region any reports of poor player behaviour towards an umpire will not be tolerated.
We urge all clubs to take proactive measures to ensure that players exhibit respectful and sportsmanlike behaviour towards umpires at all times. Everyone plays to win but when behaviours being demonstrated are causing umpires to step down this is to the detriment of the game and cannot be tolerated.
Your cooperation and support in addressing this issue are crucial for the future of our cricket, ultimately, we are all here to enjoy and promote the game and our clubs.
Please disseminate this message to all players and members within your club and emphasise the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful environment on the field.
Anyone who is interested in returning to umpiring or wishes to take up umpiring please contact us on admin@wdcu.co.uk
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards,
WDCU Exec Committee.
Review from the badger’s sett…
Stenhousemuir v Prestwick
Prestwick made the trip to the Tryst in the knowledge that the winning of today’s toss would be crucial in determining the final outcome of the match. The Tryst is a largish ground, and on a warm and sunny day, an afternoon in the field first can be a bit of an agonising chore. With that in mind, Prestwick won the toss and elected to bat first.
Prestwick began their innings brightly and had put 50 on the board before Ross Kennedy (18) fell to the bowling of big Nick Lister in the 10th over. At the beginning of the 11th over, the other Prestwick opener, Indy Singh (28) was smartly caught by Yaseen Valli off young Husnain Atif. In the 12th over, last week’s centurion Sachin Chaudhary (1) was LBW to Lister and at the end of the 13th, Prestwick were 60-4 with Declan Botes another batter sunk by the ‘caught Yaseen Valli, bowled Husnain Atif’ combination. Tom Fleet (29) and Ewen McBeth (12) dug in for a partnership of 30, but the rotational bowling of the Stenhousemuir spin troika of Zander Smith (1-23), Callum Grant (3-19) and Manas Sahare (2-26) unravelled the Prestwick batting and they were finally all out for 144 in 36.4 overs.
Defending 144 against an in-form Stenhousemuir and the batsmanship of back-to-back league century maker Yaseen Valli was going to have to have Prestwick’s bowling to be at its very best. Although Valli came and went for 34, the contributions to the total by the other batters and a cameo 37no from Amir Shahzad got Stenny over the line 5 down in the 33rd over.
Not a good day at the office for Prestwick while Stenhousemuir go 3 wins from 3.
Kelburne v Drumpellier
Today’s clash was always going to be a tough result for the loser and leave them slightly afoot at the bottom of the table. Both clubs would be fairly justified in stating that at least one of their league losses to date was unfortunate, but the vanquished today would be encountering difficulties in the coming weeks to go and get that much needed first win under their belts.
I found this game to be a strange affair – maybe nervousness on the parts of both teams – but in both innings, just as you thought the game was about to get going again, a wicket would fall and what should have been a high-scoring encounter between two decently matched sides failed to materialise.
Drumpellier won the toss and batted first, but wickets kept on falling in dribs and drabs and the Langloaners were eventually 141ao in the 42nd over. Supeshala Jayathilake was top-scorer with 34 and the under-rated Chris Keltie scored 31. Kelburne’s bowling had Pashtoon Mohiaga taking 3-22, Zain Mohammad taking 2-20 and Jamie Cook’s inviters getting 4-36.
I honestly thought at half-time that Kelburne had this game in the bag but began to reconsider that when Kelburne were 13-3 after 6 overs. Kyle Northend (39) and Lucas Farndale (29) got the total up to 71-4 off 14 overs. Although Alexander Gilmour was dismissed in the 16th taking the total to 78-5, a sensibly played partnership between Farndale and Jamie Cook (24) took Kelburne to 116-5 in the 21st over. Then the wheels came off the Kelburne innings. A wahoo at a Josh Allison delivery by Jamie Cook led to a leading edge skier taken by the Drumpellier keeper, Will Leslie – Kelburne 116-6. The following over, Farndale had a swish at a ball outside off-stump from Chathuranga Kumara and there were great celebrations in the land of Drumps for another caught behind by Leslie. Farndale stood his ground, did a bit of gardening and was somewhat disappointed to be given out after an 11 second delay – you could hear some interesting ‘conversations’ as Farndale left the crease, none by players I hasten to add, and I’m sure there will be varying ‘opinions’ to be heard about it all in the coming days.
Suddenly Kelburne were 118-7 off 22 chasing 141. Kumara took 2 more wickets in the 24th over to leave Kelburne 123-9. This had become a tense and tight contest but all Ross MacLean and Pashtoon Mohiaga had to do was occupy the crease and see overs out – the needed runs would come in wides, no-balls, byes and extras if they just batted sensibly and took no chances. They got the total to 135-9 in the 28th over, and for the life of me, I am non-plussed at the following when you only need 6 runs to win from 22 overs – Mohiaga wipes Kumara to mid-on and calls MacLean for a single – mid-on picks the ball up and throws down the stumps at the non-strikers end to run Mohiaga out – he (Mohiaga) seems to give up running 3 yards short and makes no effort to run his bat in. The forlorn figure of Ross MacLean at the strikers end as Drumpellier players quite rightly run around in celebration of victory is a saddening site – we’ve all been there in our own cricket careers, on both sides of the fence, but as a neutral observer, I felt for Ross today.
On the bowling front for Drumpellier, Mohsin Khan took 2-32 and Chathuranga Kumara finished with 5-37.
An important win for Drumpellier and also resembling their doggedness and determination of the 2024 campaign that got them a fifth place. But for Kelburne, another Saturday disappointment.
Ayr v Uddingston
An interesting fixture lay ahead between these old rivals. Ayr had had a close win in the first week against Drumpellier and then the emotion of a tensely tied match against GHK last Saturday. For Uddingston, they had encountered the capabilities of GHK in the first league game and then faced Ferguslie the following week. Differing final results for both teams so far but a day’s cricket under the sun at New Cambusdoon was always going to provide a welcome win for the victor.
Uddingston electing to bat first would have appealed to them, and a decent start would set the tone for the innings. Even accounting for the early loss of Muhammad Awais when the total was 12, the partnership of Keerat Singh (39) and Amaan Ramzan (13) is more than capable of posting a platform for the rest of the team to bat from. When Ramzan departed when the total was 62 in the 17th over, the Uddingston batting seemed to struggle with the slower bowling variations of a combination of Neil Flack (2-29), Hamza Tahir (4-24) and Ollie Jones (3-20) and eventually petered out for 129 in the 36th over.
For Ayr, the frighteningly intimidating opening batting partnership of Michael English (58no) and Neil Flack (61) got their summer roadshow up and running for 2025. Although Flack got out when the total was 128 and Ollie Jones then stroking a 4 to win the match, Neil Flack will be glad he’s back in the game as they say. He’s looked somewhat discombobulated so far this season and hopefully today’s knock, and bowling performance, will have blown the winter blues away and he’ll resume his mantle as part of the Ayr dangerman role he has filled so well in recent seasons.
Not the result big Clarkey would have been wanting, but he’ll gather the Villagers around again and try to get them onto winning ways in the coming weeks. Uddingston are never a side to underestimate.
Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal – Comedy Night – Friday 25th July 2025 – Hamilton Crescent
In July, West of Scotland Cricket Club will be hosting the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal who are running a comedy night to raise funds. With Mark Nelson headlining the evening, it won’t be one to miss!
The Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal is a charity funded by Scotland fans, the aim of which is to make a donation to identified children’s charities in every country in which the Scottish National Football Team plays matches. Since 2003, this has been achieved – uninterrupted.
Tickets can be purchased for this comedy night online: https://tartan-army-sunshine-appeal.square.site/…/38…
As many of you know, the Hamilton Crescent cricket ground is part of footballing history – it is the origin site for international football and the birthplace of the Tartan Army. It’s great to have TASA at the ground and continuing the symbiotic relationships between cricket and football and all for a worthwhile cause.
It is our history, an undeniable fact of what cricket in the west has been involved in and must continue to support.
Dumfries v Ferguslie
The return of Dumfries back into the Premier Division for 2025 saw the Nunholm pitch and facilities back at the level they deserve to be at, and with Ferguslie as the visitors, today’s game had two batting line-ups with the potential to make full use of what the strip had to offer.
And Ferguslie, after winning the toss, decided they would give the Nunholm deck first dibs. Stafford (14) was the first wicket to fall at 28, and Muhammad Mayet was joined at the crease by Gregor Preston-Jones. When Preston-Jones (5) was dismissed in the 11th over, the total was 71 and Mayet at the other end was 40no.
Muhammad Mayet (69) was caught and bowled by Chris Brockwell in the 19th over and the total was 110. And this was the moment the first innings began to slide away from the Dumfries bowlers. Uzair Ahmad (103no) and Taimoor Ahmad (54) put on a 115 run partnership in 16 overs with quickly run ones and twos interspersed with flurries of fours and sixes. The run-per-over ratio of 7.18 is a good effort, but when you factor in today’s warm and sunny weather and only 56 of those runs coming from boundaries, the stamina and fitness of the Ahmads in those conditions is to be applauded. (Oh to be young again). When Taimoor was bowled for 54 in the 35th over, Uzair was 54no. Ferguslie were 225-4 with 15 overs to go. Any thoughts of a respite for Dumfries were quickly dispelled, and although 4 more wickets fell, the innings closed on 341-8. These final overs had gone at a run-per-over ratio of 7.73 with Saif Sajjad (18), Ettiene Jewell (14) and Haroon Tahir (20) rotating the strike with Uzair. When Uzair Ahmad faced the 2nd ball of the last over from Munro Cubbon, he was 90no and had been batting for nearly 40 overs. There was clear intent that he was getting a century today as he dispatched this very same ball over midwicket for 4. The next ball was also sent over midwicket, only this time for 6 and his ton was achieved, ending up 103 not out – a fantastic innings.
A long day in the field for the Dumfries bowlers with Chris Brockwell bowling well in his 10 overs and taking 2-37 while Ben Plowman plugged away and took 3-47.
The Dumfries reply was always going to be a daunting one with a run-rate required of nearly 7 an over. The innings started badly with the loss of early wickets and Dumfries found themselves 27-3 after 8 overs. An 86 run partnership between Adam Malik (51) and Andrew Dawson (66no) got Dumfries to 113-4 after 25 overs when Malik got out having scored yet another well-crafted 50 to his name. But scoring 228 off the remaining 25 overs at a rising run-rate of 9.00 an over was always going to be a tall order after an afternoon fielding. Wickets came and went and Dumfries were eventually 200ao in the 44th over with Dawson undefeated on 66.
The pick of the Ferguslie bowling was Haroon Tahir taking 3-35 and man-of-the-match Uzair Ahmad taking 2-17.
A good game of cricket played in glorious weather and on a pitch that deservedly gets many plaudits in the cricket world.
Clydesdale v GHK
Week 3 of the season and the current Glasgow club derby had its third competitive outing in as many weeks. The ‘Dale went into the match 2-0 up but those recent victories over the David Copperfield green and purple magic act in the McCulloch Cup and Scottish Cup would be counting for nothing – today was league cricket with the end-of-day result providing fill-in background pieces of the jigsaw that forms the WDCU Premier Division puzzle for 2025. Every run is a prisoner and every ball bowled is vital.
GHK won the toss and chose to bat first but when Fazal Jawad (11) was LBW to Rahman at 30, a further 6 wickets fell for only 23 runs. Contributions by Ali Majeed (28) and Muhammad Majeed (24) helped get the final GHK total to 79ao in 16.4 overs but with crease occupation a necessity lost and only three batters scoring double figures, 79 was never going to be enough. Clydesdale used four bowlers with Muhammad Ghaffar (2-24) and Isaac Rahman (4-35) providing the early damage to the GHK batting. Zeeshan Bashir (3-15) and Rafay Khan (1-2) were the other bowlers used.
In reply, Clydesdale quickly passed the GHK total for 80 without loss in 16 overs with Ali Khan 40no and Sheryar Awan 37no. GHK’s luck/magic of the previous two Saturdays deserted them today and my only observational advice to them would be crease composure and a bit more nous of building platforms and partnerships to post totals when batting first. I was never a batter myself but played in sides full of them and always understood the value of small contributions go a long way to post a score that is defendable, especially in a team sport like cricket.
Plaudits to both sides though with only a solitary no-ball and 2 wides between them – thank you.
There are no bad teams in the WDCU Premiership and all are capable of beating each other and convincingly to boot if required – but there is luck, what ifs and belief. And belief is the major component to have – believe that you will win, do well, bat, bowl, catch it, run him out, chase down the total or defend the low score – cricket is a team game where your fortunes are determined by those you play with and how you play with them. Some team-mates are good, some team-mates are bad, some are selfish, some are show-offs, some try their hardest and others are just simply ordinary enthusiasts. But collectively, it is a combined resolve to achieve something together that is not only rewarding, but beneficial to all involved, and that is by having belief.
Siggy
PS – while the cricket was going on today, I spent some time at Hampden Bowling Club in Kingsley Gardens on the southside and was in the company of the oldest football trophy in the world, the Scottish Football Challenge Cup (Scottish Cup).
The Scottish Cup competition was created in 1873 when seven Glasgow area cricket clubs met with Queen’s Park Football Club to found the Scottish Football Association and a governing body under one set of rules and a cup competition for the member clubs.
13 Glasgow area cricket clubs played in the original tournament of 16 teams with Clydesdale losing 2-0 to Queens Park in the final. The final was played at the First Hampden Park, the site of the bowling green that I am standing upon, and the pavilion behind me was originally the Caledonian Cricket Club that stood at Kelvinbridge.
Our cricket – your cricket – has an awful lot to be proud of and a history that we must protect, preserve and promote.
On a final note, only 5 clubs have won that Scottish Cup three-in-a-row – Queen’s Park, Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and a Western District Cricket Union club in Vale of Leven. The Vale are 175 next year, let’s make sure they get there as well, because they are part of our cricketing history, a history that we must never forget.

It’s with huge sadness that Kilmarnock CC share news of the tragic death of lifelong friend and team mate Scott Weir. Our thoughts go out to Scott’s family and friends and all at Kilmarnock.
Week 2 – WDCU Premier Division – Saturday 10th May 2025
Dumfries v Stenhousemuir
At a sun-drenched Nunholm, Stenhousemuir batted first. As ususal, the policies looked magnificent in the sunshine and the facilities thronged with people availing themselves of everything Dumfries Cricket Club has to offer the community. Stenhousemuir batted cautiously to begin with and were 40-0 after 10 overs and were 100-1 after 20. After 25 overs, Stenny were 120-3 but with Yaseen Valli still at the crease, a reasonable total could be expected.
Yaseen fell in the 50th over for 109 and the Stenhousemuir total finished up 261-8 with batting contributions by Manas Sahare (22), Dennico Hollis (24) and Callum Grant (27no). For the second week in a row, the Messrs Cubbon played their part for Dumfries in the field with Nairn taking 3-36 and Munro pouching 3 catches.
Dumfries had a valiant attempt at chasing down 261 and finished up 7 short on 254-8. Bellwood (13), Davidson (16) and Malik (25) kept the scoreboard ticking over while James Ritchie scored a combative 61 to keep the pressure on Stenhousemuir’s bowling. When Ritchie and Brockwell fell on 144 in the 32nd over, one would be forgiven that the match was over.
It wasn’t – Fergus Bainbridge scored 31 and was run out in the 42nd over and the total 197-6. The following stand of 44 by the Messrs Cubbon made the equation become tighter and tighter. When Nairn fell for 28 and the total now 241-8 and 9 balls to go, it was still game on. Dumfries finally finished on 254-8 with Munro Cubbon 40no but it was a fantastic game of cricket by both teams.
Prestwick v Kelburne
Prestwick took first dig at the Henry Thow Oval and all looked good after the first over, however, a loose shot by Ewen McBeth at the start of the 2nd saw a sharp catch being taken by Zain Mohammad. A few balls later, a rasper of a diving catch in front of first slip by Kyle Northend did for Calum Rodger and Prestwick found themselves 7-2 after 2 overs. At this point I feared for Prestwick and perhaps a repeat of last week’s batting at Titwood was on the cards. A strange shot by Indy Singh at the beginning of the 6th saw Prestwick puffing somewhat at 20-3. Declan Botes helped Sachin Chaudhary steady the ship (sic) before being bowled with the score on 57. A fine partnership of 98 by Chaudhary and Tom Fleet took the Prestwick total to 155 when young Tom, perhaps the latest victim of the dreaded drinks-break and getting out immediately thereafter scenario, fell LBW for 48 to the bowling of Jamie Cook (I hope Jamie got him a beer after the game). With Gurupreet Singh adding a late 38 and Sachin Chaudhary posting 102, Prestwick looked to have overcome their early-season batting jitters and closed the innings with a respectable total of 267-9. For Kelburne in the field, Ross MacLean took 2-48, Aftab Ahmed took 3-47 and Pashtoon Mohiagha took 2-40.
Keburne’s response was brisk. When Cameron MacLean (35), the first Kelburne wicket fell, the total was 72 in the 14th over. When Mo Kamran (20) and Tanu Makoni were dismissed by Sachin Chaudhary in the space of a couple of balls in the 17th over and the total now 80-3, I was worried that the remaining wickets were going to fall quickly like dominoes being toppled. Alexander Gilmour and Jamie Cook came and went and at 117-5 in the 26th over, the game’s a bogey. But no – Kyle Northend’s 61 gave hope while Mohammad (19), Ross MacLean (27) and Mohiagha (18) kept it interesting. Kelburne’s innings finished in the 47th over with them 226-9 and Lucas Farndale retired hurt/ill. What ifs and maybes had Lucas been fit and batted earlier but both sides can take comfort from today’s performances. Prestwick recovering from their shoeing of last week and Kelburne blowing off early season rustiness and showing that they are capable.
Drumpellier v Clydesdale
Clydesdale won the toss at Langloan and invited Drumpellier to bat first. The setting was perfect as the two senior clubs of the WDCU renewed their 350 years worth of Saturday afternoon cricket against each other. Drumps quickly found themselves 23-3 after 10 overs including a well taken catch by Lukas Fischer-Keogh to dismiss Supeshala Jayathilake for 0. A find stand of nearly 60 by Jordan Pryde and Hassan Azhar got the Langloaners back into the game but both batters were quickly removed following the almost talismanic introduction of Zeeshan Bashir into the ‘Dale attack and Drumpellier found themselves 85-5 and having to rebuild their innings again. But it was not to be for Drumpellier as they were 117 all out in the 42nd over with Bashir taking 5-11 in his spell.
In reply, Drumpellier had Clydesdale 12-2 after 4 overs and with new batters at the crease, the chance of another couple of wickets might turn the match back in their favour. But Craig Young, Mr. Calm personified, plugged away for 31 in a partnership of 72 with Sizwe Masondo. Kallum Dhami came to the wicket at 84 and was 14no when Clydesdale overtook the Drumpellier total in the 23rd over, finishing up 121-3. I watched the innings of Sizwe Masondo with interest – nothing flashy, nothing outrageous to note, but as a bowler, I was wary of him as a batter. He looks the part and will probably be a staple of Clydesdale’s defence of the championship. His 56no was effortlessly efficient in its execution and his foot movements and shot selections made me, as an observer, glad that I wasn’t playing. He’s a player and definitely one to watch this season.
GHK v Ayr
GHK have obviously been reading the Ayr game-plan book of recent seasons and opted to bat first at Old Anniesland. An interesting decision to go for, but GHK were 62-1 after 12 overs and setting a rare old pace. Ali Majeed (34) fell in the 16th over with the total now 77-2 and GHK were still going for it, as they say, and were 121-3 after 25 overs. The GHK innings finally concluded in the 47th over with them being 175ao with Fazal Jawad scoring 67. The Ayr bowling saw Flack, Ali and Tahir all take 2 each while Marcel Marconi’s airwave floaters took 3-13 off 5 overs.
Chasing 175, it would be easy to expect Ayr to overcome that total. But this is GHK they are playing – the Paul Daniel’s Magic Show of the WDCU with the tagline of “You’ll like it. Not a lot, but you’ll like it”.
And miracles do happen – the opening salvo of the GHK bowling attack can be an ordeal – it is quick, challenging and also unexpected. Ayr did well to ride the opening burst of 10 overs and only be 27-3. With the change of pace, Michael English and Jake Wodehouse took the total along to 72-4 in the 28th over when Wodehouse was bowled by Azeem Akbar. Mikey Miller (33) chipped in to a 50 run partnership with English, and when he fell in the 39th over, the total was 128-5. 48 runs required off 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand – sorted.
Michael Maxwell scored 18 in a 30 run partnership with English and with 20 required from 6 overs, Michael English looking determined, a tight victory for Ayr was in the offing.
And then the magician’s wand was waved and the GHK spearhead bowling attack returned for the death. Wickets fell on 160 (Riggs) and Tahir and Ali in consecutive balls on 165 in the 46th over. English took the game to Akbar in the 47th and scored 9 runs from it. He scored a single in the 48th to tie the scores and would be facing the 49th over from Akbar. And once again, and not for the first time in recent seasons for GHK, the magic dust took effect and Michael English was caught to be last man out for Ayr and a tied match.
A tense, close and enthralling encounter that proves that you never, ever write off a final result until that final ball is bowled.
Ferguslie v Uddingston
Ferguslie batted first at Meikleriggs and the well-oiled batting machine that operates at the field of dreams got up and running for the 2025 season. 60 was on the board at the beginning of the 8th over when David Stafford was caught behind and that brought to the wicket the welcome return of Gregor Preston-Jones to 1st team action – always nice to see Gregor playing. Gregor’s return to the crease was cut short when out with the total on 71 in the 11th over, but the spectators were then treated to a majestic batting display by Muhammad Mayet (110) and Uzair Ahmad (70) and a partnership of 166 in 25 overs.
Praise to Uddingston’s Keerat Singh who bowled his 10 overs and took 3-66 during the majority of that partnership and it seemed rather apt that he was rewarded with the wickets of both Mayet and Ahmad.
The Ferguslie innings finished with the impressive total of 298-9 off their 50 overs with Muhammad Awais taking 2-22 and Rajarajan Kamaraj taking 2-18 in the closing overs.
It was going to be a tall order for Uddingston to chase down almost 300, and when Muhammad Awais was caught for 44 in the 17th over and the total 84-5, my initial reaction was that’s that. But I had forgotten about Ross Lyons and that he can golf it to all corners of the ground and make an impossible target very reachable. He gave it a good effort and when joined at the wicket by Tom Wilmott and 136-7 in the 30th over, the measured sclaff was on. When Ross was eventually dismissed in the 44th over, he had put on a partnership of 91 with Wilmott and personally scored 82 runs that included seven 4s and four 6s. Tom Wilmott fell for 34 shortly afterwards and Uddingston were eventually 234ao in the 46th over. Ettiene Jewell took 3-27, Haroon Tahir took 3-44 and Uzair Ahmad took 2-28.
A win for Ferguslie but Uddingston made a game of it. 532 runs for 19 wickets. A century, two 50s, a couple of large partnerships, some strong bowling performances and decent cricket to watch. Meikleriggs again living up to its moniker ‘the field of dreams’.
I’ve included some clips from Frogbox this week to add to the review. The first two are the catches I mention, and the other two are sporting appreciations by the fielders towards batters scoring 100. Nice to see the spirit of the game in the WDCU.
Hope you enjoy this ‘review from the badger’s sett’ of week 2 of the WDCU Premiership 2025, but if you get a chance, study the scorecards of the games and look at the extras of each innings. Count the wides and no-balls and then deduct these ‘extra runs and balls bowled’ from the totals, factor in what those ‘extra runs and balls bowled’ did to the final result of the games played and remember what I wrote last week – every run is a prisoner and every ball bowled is vital.
Siggy
https://highlights.frogbox.tv/5-119e9e4d-0948-4e3e-a60b-892933054b9a/4a738f8d-8d2c-4046-8a76-b757c11c8d25.m3u8?dt=1746875675&start=0&end=30
https://highlights.frogbox.tv/5-3162861a-6815-4907-aaca-f72018613c4f/8560009d-0541-4faf-a07f-9810b8b3af1b.m3u8?dt=1746878006&start=6&end=36
https://highlights.frogbox.tv/5-3d3563e1-c823-415f-8135-4178e443a29a/7cbd9403-a5a5-43d1-b019-47d3a8dc152b.m3u8?dt=1746883624&start=4&end=34
https://highlights.frogbox.tv/5-9eba6c4e-8d66-4c72-a3ed-3d6319ab6c34/86e9e5a8-8813-4551-a9f6-b68d5a7c6ed2.m3u8?dt=1746887222&start=0&end=30
Bryan
WDCU are currently seeking an Administrator an administrator with a view to support the organisation of club cricket within the region. No previous experience within cricket administration is required, albeit an understanding of the region and structures of the organisation and cricket in the West of Scotland would be advantageous. Applications should be made in writing via email to,
Hon. Secretary & Treasurer – Bryan Clarke, wdcu.secretary@gmail.com
Please see link below for further details –
WDCU Administrator Roles and responsibilities 2025
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