Twenty20 vision at Larghan Park

Jul 2 2009 Blairgowrie Advertiser

Rossie Priory 126 for eight

Coupar Angus 120 for six

THE excitement and drama that is Twenty20 Cricket took centre stage at Larghan Park on Thursday evening last week (June 25) when Coupar Angus locked horns with Rossie Priory in the second of three league section games in this season's Perthshire Association Cup.

Coupar won the trophy three times in the 1960’s and featured in the final twice in more recent times.

Rossie batted first, while three of the Coupar side were caught up in traffic, although the ever willing Jimmy Lindsay featured as a substitute and he later said he that he was less that happy about the fielding of some of the home side.

Rossie’s opener Peter Yearworth was made to look sluggish following a sharp piece of fielding and throw by Warren Sutherland.

The next wicket did not fall until Rossie were on a healthy 59 runs and looking good for a big total, and the Rossie middle order then further accelerated the run rate.

However, four well taken catches and a couple of clean bowled deliveries from Gordon Croll eventually had Coupar back in the game with Rossie contained to an obtainable 126 from the 20-over thrash.

Other opportunities for catches which were spilled could have resulted in less of a home chase in the Coupar innings.

Skipper for the evening Warren Sutherland opted for the Nelson and Grogan opening partnership, in the hope that there would be an early run fest.

The experiment again failed to work, as a slower delivery was popped back into the bowler's hands by Mark.

Mike was caught from the final delivery of the second over and this brought the club captain Bobby Edington to bat with Warren Sutherland and they used their experience to steer Coupar towards a potential match winning position.

However, Bobby played at a rising ball, and was caught, much to the delight of the bowler and the rest of the Rossie Priory fielders.

Kenny MacNaughton was rather unusually run out without scoring, and Coupar began to fall behind in required the run rate. Although middle orders Scott McKay, Alistair Hodge, and Graham Gibbons gave it a go, they lacked the necessary power to pepper the Larghan Park boundary.

This was a disappointment, especially given what had happened the previous Saturday, when Cupar were let off the hook in what was another low scoring chase.

It was good to see some of the Rossie old boys, and the game was played in a competitive and friendly manner. It was also nice to see some of the local older faces from the past.

The final game in the League Cup section is a now a tie against Breadalbane and is scheduled to take place at Larghan on Wednesday, July 15. It is likely to be treated as a vigorous practice.

Rossie Priory 126 for eight (B. Stephens 31, B. Ditchman 30, M. McAlpine 22, A. Caddick 21, M. Devlin 11; G. Croll two for 13, B. Rodger two for 25, M. Nelson one for 28, A. Hodge one for 29), Coupar Angus 120 for six (Mike Nelson 30, Warren Sutherland 24, Alistair Hodge 18 not out, Graham Gibbons 17 not out, Scott McKay 15, Bobby Edington 10; A. Milne two for 30, B. Ditchmen one for 12, B. Stephens one for 34).

Coupar Angus 188 for four

Kinloch did not bat – rain

COUPAR opening batsman Warren Sutherland celebrated part of a landmark birthday in the middle at St Andrews on Sunday and returned to his high scoring ways.

Following two disappointing reversals recently against Cupar and Rossie Priory, Bobby Edington’s men were desperate to return to league winning ways.

Early morning and overnight rain had the sub-standard wicket difficult to bat on, although in fairness the bowling was initially extremely difficult to despatch.

Coupar had managed only a mere 25 runs from the first 15 overs, but with just one wicket down there was ample batting and overs to enable the visitors to reach respectability.

Young Alistair Hodge has been a real find for Coupar and he showed considerable patience in hanging around with his more senior partner.

The birthday boy was not at his very best, but was good enough to sort out the Kinloch bowlers.

Alistair did not look to be in too much trouble and was eventually stroking the ball nicely around the outfield at St Andrews University grounds.

But he was brilliantly run out following a rapier like throw from deep in the outfield.

This brought Gordon Croll to the wicket. Due to injury he has been batting down the order, but he wasted no time in getting to grips with the Kinloch attack.

As Warren got past his half century their blistering partnership of 64 had the Coupar total and run rate more satisfying for their skipper.

With two overs to go Warren and Gordon were going for everything in the chase to obtain maximum batting points, and Warren perished when he slashed at a delivery and was well caught at wide slip.

With Scott McKay at the wicket Gordon Croll took the initiative, and with a six and two fours, reacher his fifty. Gordon’s thrash contained two big sixes and five fours, but the key thing was the healthy total and the much improved run rate per over.Kinloch were a rather disconsolate lot during the tea interval, although their mood changed when they realised that the rain had started. It soon became apparent that the game would not be completed, and that the efforts of Warren and Gordon were all in vain.

Coupar Angus 188 for four (Warren Sutherland 74, Gordon Croll 52 not out, Bobby Edington 22, Alistair Hodge 22), Kinloch did not bat – due to rain.

Despite the disappointment, the game has provided some valuable batting practice which should prove useful in view of this Sunday’s league encounter against Forthill XI at Broughty Ferry.

There will be a good surface to play on, so the in-form Coupar batsmen will be keen to stroke the ball and hopefully for real, although they will have to perform better than they did at the start of the season.

In May Forthill won with a couple of overs to spare in what was a close, low scoring encounter.

This Saturday there will be a friendly against an Arbroath Select, in which Grant Carnegie will offer places to several of his promising young players, although there will be a smattering of experience.

The friendly on Saturday at Larghan Park will commence, weather permitting, at 2pm, while Sunday’s league game will start at the usual time of 1pm.

Meigle

MEIGLE team to play Forthill away on Saturday (July 4)--P. J. Drummond, R. Laing, D. Christie, A. Trivedi, A. Gilmour, F. Bell, P. C. J. Drummond, S. Boyer, A. Elder, A. Bruce, R. Mitchell. Scorer--Tam Milne. Players meet at 11.30am. Meigle XI team to play Kinross away on Sunday (July 5) – R. Laing, C. Dixon, D. Robertson, Cr. Mitchell, S. Boyer, C. Clark, Ch. Mitchell, R. Evans, A. Gilmour, W. Morton, A. Bruce. Players meet at 11.15am.