July Match Reports

Nairn Cricket Club vs Ross County Cricket Club

Macallan Senior League Saturday 31st July 2010
 
 
Ross County raised their game in the Macallan Senior League with a crushing 129 run victory over local rivals Nairn at the Links Park. Despite bowling well all season County have miss fired with the bat on numerous occasions and went into the match knowing that a top six finish was impossible no matter what the outcome. With the league split top and bottom the Strathpeffer team will look to win the remaining 5 games to lift the league plate. Ross County won the toss and opted to open the batting with regulars Dave Smart and Harry Tolliday. Smart was soon to compound a disappointing season by edging a very wide delivery to the wicket keeper on 4 runs. Smart is usually a very good late player; with an excellent cut shot in his repertoire but his time his favourite shot was his undoing. Tolliday on the other hand looked in control from the start, finally succumbing for 61; caught in the deep whilst trying to up the scoring rate. This good knock coupled with some sensible and thoroughly enjoyable batting from veterans Jerry Bishop and Graham Watson which boosted the innings total to 151 all out off 44.2 overs. Nairn quick man Matt MacGlew took 3 wickets with 4 from Nairn skipper Neil Gibson.
 
The Nairn innings came and went in a flash, 13 overs to be precise as they were bowled all out for 22. Seldom has the league seen such a lowly score from a senior team and had they not been gifted 7 extras the humiliation could have been even worse. Opening bowler Andy Cole was rewarded with 5 wickets for 11 runs, with Jack Sangster taking 3 wickets for 9. Chris Blake maintained his position at the top of the club averages table with 2 for 2. It would be easy to credit the humbling of the batting order to suspect and inept batting, however Cole and Sangster bowled good lines, with the ball swinging a long way in the muggy damp conditions. Wicket keeper Graham Watson was in fine form behind the stumps taking 3 catches including a very low “daisy cutter”.
 
Ross County play Fort William at Fort Augustus Abbey on 14th August and with a similar bowling line up expected, perhaps they should be choosing to back their attack and bowl first? Ross County have always been considered a batting team, but with a young and lively bowling line up comprising of Cole, Baron, Sangster and Blake perhaps the opposition will soon begin to fear the ball not the blade.