Uddingston cricketers are joint-top after 10-wicket win

May 8 2008

TUNNOCK Uddingston sit joint-top of the Scottish National Cricket League Premier Division following an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Ferguslie at Bothwell Castle Policies.

Overseas professional Ed Cowan again played a major part in the victory, with an impressive 88 not-out — including 13 boundaries — but he was ably assisted by Scott Dalgleish, who himself recorded 65 not-out as the duo easily met Ferguslie’s meagre 171-8 total with 13 overs to spare.

Paul Hoffmann also contributed with a typically threatening 3-15, but that was overshadowed by the impressive Gavin Bradley, who recorded 4-21, as Ferguslie struggled to get the scoreboard moving.

Uddingston now sit second in the table, on the same points as Carlton, and are five points clear of pre-season favourites Grange.

Having won the toss, Uddingston captain Ricky Bawa invited Ferguslie to bat, and he and Paul Hoffmann kept the run-rate down to two per over, until the 15th.

Having taken the only wicket with a miserly 1-10 from seven overs, Hoffmann then retired to long-off and Bradley took over with the score at 32-1.

Bawa stifled Ferguslie in his 10 overs, before Bradley removed the cream of the opposition batting order with 4 for 21, leaving the Paisley side on 74-6 from 27 overs.

A stubborn stand of 73-7 between Omar Hussain and Richard Rutnagur took the score to 149 in the 47th over, before Hoffmann was recalled to the attack, and he took two wickets, finishing the match with figures of 3-15, leaving Ferguslie with a final score of 171-8.

Cowan and Dalgleish dominated Uddingston’s defence, offering few chances in a clinical win.

However, Uddingston were on Sunday knocked out of the West of Scotland Cup by West of Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, as they failed to reach the target of 135-8, only managing 111 all-out in their 30-wickets.