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