WDCU Third Division – end of season review

As in all the other divisions, weather was to play a significant part in Division 3 with only around 40% of the matches being played. Whiteinch and East Renfrewshire were clear at the top of the table with the late season loss to Inverclyde by East Renfrewshire consigning them to second place. Whiteinch with nine wins out of eleven matches played were worthy winners. At the bottom end of the table, Gatehouse had a tough season without a win – their high point being a 40 overs tied match at home with Kirkstyle.

Statistically Zarak Ahad (Whiteinch) with 413 runs, Tariq Shabbir (East Renfrewshire) 401, and the evergreen Douglas Pilkington (Inverclyde) 277, were the top run scorers. The highest individual score of 204 was made by Zarak Ahad when Whiteinch met Alps. On the bowling front, Andy Fielding (Bute) and Gareth James (Inverclyde) were top wicket takers with 13 apiece. Zarak Ahad with ten was the top catcher although surprisingly, mid-table Inverclyde, headed by Captain David Cooke with 7 safe pouches, had five catchers named in the top eleven!

Player numbers and the ability to field a full side on a Saturday seems to be an ever increasing problem in Division 3. Concessions were limited to four over the season but it’s suspected that several more were prevented by the abysmally wet weather – there were four match days when no Division 3 cricket was played at all.  The clubs in this division stretch from Gatehouse in the south to Helensburgh in the north – more than 130 miles, and this wide geographic area, and the resultant travelling time, does little to assist the situation.