Hoffman puts Villagers back on track

Jun 12 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

PAUL Hoffmann was the hero as Uddingston grabbed a vital five-wicket win over Carlton at Bothwell Castle Policies.

This result gets the Villagers back on track in their Scottish National Cricket League Premier Division campaign, propelling them into joint-third, just three points behind leaders Grange, having played a game less.

Australian Hoffmann’s contribution was decisive, leaving Carlton reeling at just 8-2 after seven overs, comprehensively bowling former Saltires team-mates Cedric English and Fraser Watts.

And although Peter Wooden clocked up a 114 total to give Carlton hope, Hoffmann’s early burst had the visitors playing catch-up and their 213-9 total looked flimsy.

So it proved, with Scott Dalgleish batting 56 and Brett Webber recording 45 before Hoffmann raced to 41 not out from only 37 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and two sixes as their 214-5 victory was achieved with 14 balls to spare.

Captain Ricky Bawa won the toss and let Carlton have first use of what looked like a good wicket.

In a devastating opening four-overs spell, Hoffmann ripped the heart out of their top-order batsmen, removing English’s middle stump with just the third ball of his second over, before dismissing Watt with a ball which beautifully cut back and sent his off-stump cartwheeling.

With the score reading 8-2 after 7 overs, Carlton professional Peter Wooden and Stevie Gilmour dug in as they tried to recover.

After bowling seven overs, Hoffmann was given a well-earned rest as Gavin Bradley came to the crease.

By the 20th over Carlton had recovered to a modest 50-2, at which point Bawa introduced spinners Mark Townson and Amir Gul.

During his second over Townson suffered a calf injury but continued for a 10-overs spell, picking off Gilmour for just 33.

After Gul had completed his 10 overs, Bawa reintroduced Bradley and he took two wickets, one being a fantastic catch by wicket-keeper Brian Clarke who stood up to dismiss David Spink for 20.

After 40 overs, Bawa’s judicious use of the spinners kept Carlton to 147-4, but with Wooden still at the crease and with six wickets in hand, the visitors could still have racked up a good score.

However, Scott Mackenzie’s two dismissals in the same over meant Carlton couldn’t produce a grandstand finish and Wooden was eventually run out for 114 by Bradley, leaving Uddingston with a target of 213 for 9.

Uddingston’s reply started brightly and 22 runs were on the board before Ed Cowan slashed at a wide long hop and was caught at point for 16.

Bradley joined Scott Dalgleish at the crease and they took the score to 48 when Bradley was trapped LBW by English in the 11th over.

Dalgleish was eventually out for 56, and in the 39th over Webber was dismissed for 45, but that allowed Hoffmann to join the fray.

After taking a few deliveries to sum up the pace and bounce of the wicket, the former Saltires star brilliantly blended brute force with deft timing and racked up 41 not out.

He was well supported by Gul (10) and John Donnelly (9 not out), giving Uddingston a hard-earned victory with 14 balls and five wickets remaining.

Uddingston travel to face Greenock in a vital SNCL Premier League clash on Saturday.