Plant guides Uddingston to victory
Uddingston were made to fight all the way by Scotland Under 19’s and eventually thanks to professional Tom Plants unbeaten 93 they won by three wickets with just over six overs to spare.
The Uddingston showed no changes in their team but the U19s made two changes with Willie Rowan and Calum Howard coming in for Matthew Parker who (called up to the Saltires), and the injured Freddie Coleman.
On a warm sunny day the Bothwell Castle Policies ground was looking in fine order for the time of the year as the captains went out to toss. Ricky Bawa won the toss and elected to field. With only nine runs on the board a mix up led to Craig Wallace being run out
Calum Howard made good use of his opportunity and shared in a 68 run partnership with Euan Chalmers before the introduction of veteran Mark Townson induced him to edge a catch to Bryan Clarke behind the stumps. Townson was joined with his spin twin and new recruit from Poloc Imran Adrees and the two bowlers made life difficult for the batsmen
A small target looked likely with the score on 102 for 5 but captain Calvin Burnett took the attack to Uddingston. He closed the innings on 75 not out. In his innings were two sixes and a number of reverse sweeps setting a target of 219 for victory. Euan Chalmers chipped in with 45 and Mark Townson was the pick of the home bowlers finishing with 2 for 29 from his ten over allocation.
Bryan Clarke and professional Tom Plant opened for the home side and were quickly one for five when Craig Wallace took his first of two catches to send Clarke back to the pavilion off the bowling of Matthew Bremner. Nineteen runs later fielding in the gully he dived forward to snap up Tom Moffat and it was game on.
Slowly but surely the home side consolidated and as long as Plant was at the crease it looked as though he would guide Uddingston to victory. Gavin Bradley, Imran Adrees and David Bill came and went but Plant was providing stubborn resistance as Calvin Burnett switched his bowlers around .
With the fall of the fifth wicket at 116 Paul Hoffmann strode to the crease, sans helmet, and in his own inimitable style set about finishing the match in quick fire fashion. 28 runs later he was out having been caught at deep square leg by Matthew Bremner who took the catching diving forward having run some considerable distance to get there. Hoffy had hit three sixes and one four in his twenty three run contribution.
Josh Johnston now came to the crease and he followed in similar fashion sharing a 66 run partnership to guide the home side to the brink of victory, before taking one chance to many he was caught by Euan Chalmers in the covers. Skipper Ricky Bawa Joined his professional and they safely saw the home team to victory by three wickets and just over six overs to spare.
Professional Tom Plane finished just seven runs short of his century and certainly saved the blushes of the home side who now look forward to taking on champions Grange at Raeburn Place next Saturday.
Under the new points system Uddingston got eight for the win but neither they nor the visitors got the bonus two points.
