Tunnock Uddingston lose to reigning champions

Jun 9 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

TUNNOCK Uddingston’s poor start to the SNC Premier League season continued on Saturday when they were beaten by last season's champions, Grange.

The Edinburgh side have also made a shaky start to the season, losing their two previous games.

However, they passed Tunnock Uddingston’s 172-9 with five wickets to spare.

It was a bitterly cold day when Ricky Bawa lost the toss and was invited to have first use of a greenish-looking wicket.

The Villagers could hardly have got off to a worse start as opening batsmen Alecz Day and Greg Watson were dismissed by the seventh over with the score only 6. Worse was to follow when Calum MacLeod was run out in the ninth over.

With the score 14 for 3 Aamir Gul and Ras were obliged to proceed with extreme caution.

The partnership managed to increase the scoring rate.

Villagers’ professional Ras, in particular, kept the scoreboard moving but with the score on 88 he was brilliantly caught at deep long on for 48 in the 29th over.

Aamir Gul resisted stoutly and with valuable help from Bryan Clarke (12), Mo Kamran (17), and Josh Johnston (15 not out), Uddingston posted a score of 172 for 9 at the close of their innings. Gul reached 41 before he was stumped in the 45th over.

Bawa and Ras opened the bowling as the Villagers tried to defend the modest total.

Ras had Gregor Maiden caught behind in the seventh over, then bowled Sandi Patel in the 13th. When Neil McCallum was spectacularly caught behind by Bryan Clarke off the bowling of Ras, Grange were 47 for 3 after 13 overs. The loss of their top order batsmen seemed to unsettle Grange and their scoring rate dropped to a crawl. However, led by their professional, Kiwi Warren McSkimming, who was not out for 69 at the close, Grange finally crossed the finishing line with a score of 174 for the loss of 5 wickets.

The 2nd XI scored 326 at Castle Policies against Albert Park who were bowled out for 276. Allan Macleod top scored for Uddingston with 130.

On Sunday, Uddingston travelled to Inverleith in Edinburgh to play SMRH in a second round Scottish Cup tie. On a bitterly cold and windy day, the home team won the toss and elected to bat. After a long period of slow scoring, the first wicket fell to Gavin Main when the score stood at 68 in the 25th over. In difficult conditions, the home side stuck to their task and posted a total of 211 for the loss of only 3 wickets. With the constant threat of rain, the Villagers tried to keep the score rate above the Duckworth Lewis total and this they did scoring 33 in 6 overs before Alecz Day was caught. After a period of slow scoring when 2 wickets fell, brisk scoring by Ras (39) Mo Kamran (43) and Calum MacLeod (76 not out) won the match for Uddingston in the 44th over for the loss of 5 wickets.

Uddingston will play an away tie at Falkland in the 3rd round on Sunday, June 19.

This Saturday the 1st XI are at home to Watsonians and the 2nd XI play the West District Academy at home on the Sunday.