Senior News

A morning of rain on Saturday held out little prospect of cricket being played but a game was eventually started at New Cambusdoon - 25 overs per side. Clydesdale's decision to field first looked to be fully vindicated as Billy and Ihtisham shared the opening two wickets with the total only on 12. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and, when the 6th fell with 36 on the board, Ayr were struggling to post a defendable total. Scott McElnea's 29 allowed the innings to continue to the 25th over, the final total being 92-9. A good bowling and fielding performance saw Zeeshan return the best figures (5-0-17-3) but Ihtisham and Arun each took 2 inexpensive wickets.

The target of 93 to win suffered an early setback with Paddy's dismissal, which brought David Sturgess to join Sheryar Awan at the wicket. Their partnership of 57, ended with David's run out for 25, grew in significance as 64-2 rapidly became 73-6 and the home side must have had hopes of pulling off a surprise victory. However, Arun (11*) and Sheryar (44*) stayed to the end to take 'Dale over the winning line in the penultimate over. Keon Peters returned a fine analysis for Ayr of 5-0-14-3.

This win, coupled with defeat for Prestwick, allowed us to take second place in the WDCU Premier Division and we face another away trip next Saturday, to play Uddingston at Bothwell.