Western Win Proves Elusive

Gatehouse of Fleet played host to Sundays Western Union Division 1 match for the Galloway versus the Western Regional Academy. Thomas McBride the WCA captain won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The innings saw a four of the first ball, a dot and then non-striker Fraser Conn, an Academy squad member, run out by the club overseas amateur, without facing a ball. The danger men were, as expected, the professional Sachin Chaudry and the evergreen Patrick Druce. The pro was taking out by an excellent Calum McLaughlin delivery, which was nicked to Poloc keeper Scott Millen.  Druce’s departure on 53 could have led to a collapse but allrounder Anthony Hullatt (also an Academy squad member) stroked an unbeaten 30 to take the hosts to 270 for 7.

Kelburne leggie Jamie Cook took 3 wickets and although he will be unhappy with a few ‘4 balls’ that relieved pressure on the Galloway batsmen, he bowled some excellent deliveries. Shreyas Chitns continued his development into a genuine off-spinner with a big spell which won the praise of the home team’s professional amongst others. Captain McBride bowled some tidy leg spin and was backed up at the death when openers, left-armer Andy Kampman and West of Scotland’s Max Ralston put in a big shift in the face of Hullatts aggressive hitting. The Galloway membership was much impressed by the fielding of the Academy and the captaincy of Thomas McBride.

With 241 the target, Sam Page, carrying an injury preventing him bowling until July at the earliest, opened the batting in his first representative match in Scotland since a family move saw him move to India for a year. Page played some classy shots and McBride was solid and assured. The score was 75 in the 15th over when Page was caught at slip of a ‘jaffa’ from Sachin. Prestwick’s Calum Rodger and Dumfries player Douglas Brotherstone, who have both been in the runs of late, departed cheaply to the pro and Druce respectively. It was left to Chitnis to offer some fight later on to try and get the Academy side to the 75% target of 180, although Gregor Preston Jones looked comfortable at the crease before his dismissal and will be disappointed not to have made more of an impact.

The Academy were to end 158 allout with a handful of overs unused and although the fielding effort was a big positive, the Scottish batting ‘disease’ of getting a start and not going on, struck again and the players know they have to work harder on this. Head Coach Iain Stewart and Team Manager John Blair wish to thank the Galloway club for the  hospitality afforded to the Western Regional Academy officials, players and parents was simply fantastic and the setting, on a pleasant if chilly day was wonderful for playing and watching a good game of cricket.

Scorecard