Western Academy defeat Cambusdoon by sixty nine runs
The Western Cricket Academy was back in league action this weekend (14 August) after a successful defence of its inter-Academy crown at New Williamfield a week ago. Their latest WDCU SNCL Reserve League fixture saw them travel to take on Cambusdoon.
Academy player Calum McLaughlin played for Cambusdoon while Kelburne CC's wicket-keeper/batsman Jak O'Connell made his Western Academy debut. Also back in the Academy side were Paddy Barbour (Clydesdale CC) and Bilal Chaudhry (Poloc CC), while Prestwick CC's Ross Patterson made his first appearance of the season.
After the recent poor weather – and bearing in mind that Ayr CC's home match against Grange CC had been cancelled the day before (13 August) - it was no surprise to find a soft, green wicket awaiting the sides. After the toss, won by Cambusdoon, skipper Ritchie Borland invited the Academy to bat.
The instructions to the batters by the coaches were simple, “Let's make sure we bat our overs”; “Let's look to build partnerships”; and, “Stay positive in spite of the wicket's condition.” The Academy delivered on all three.
Three partnerships were of particular note for the youngsters as they batted their 50-over allocation. Openers Paddy Barbour and Craig Young (Poloc CC) put on 41 for the first wicket to give their side a decent start. Both were out to catches - as were all bar one of the nine batters dismissed - and they were followed back to the pavilion in quick succession by the Ferguslie CC pair of Michael English and Gregor Preston-Jones batting at four and five respectively.
Danial Chaudhry (Poloc CC) and Ross Patterson then started the job of rebuilding, and put on the second meaningful partnership of the innings, taking the side past 100, before Patterson became Borland's fourth victim. Chaudhry followed after a near run-a-ball 33 to bring the score to 118 for six.
Galloway CC's Fraser Conn and Clydesdale CC's Lyle Hill then put on 26 for the seventh wicket before Conn’s departure brought O'Connell to the middle to join Hill. O'Connell, one of the west RDC's squad players, was positive from the start, and showed no nerves as he matched Hill's run-rate, the two taking the attack to the Cambusdoon change bowlers.
92 runs were added for the eighth wicket in just under 13 overs as they accumulated runs at more than 7 runs-an-over. Both were dismissed before reaching their half-centuries however and were replaced by Anthony Hulatt (Galloway CC) and Bilal Chaudhry who managed to scurry a few late runs in the final overs.
When the 50 overs had been bowled, the Academy batters had amassed 251 - Hill's 48 and O'Connell's 43 being the best individual scores. The Academy also owed much to Cambusdoon's bowlers' generosity as 55 extras contributed to the scores, including 43 in wides. Matthew McClymont was the main cuplrit, an incredible 21 coming off his five overs.
Cambusdoon's run-chase saw Academy player McLaughlin open for the home side, alongside the experienced Niall McCrossin. The two got off to a great start as Hill's first over went for 14. The run-rate was then dragged back by Bilal Chaudhry who bowled a tight spell from the pavilion end although Cambusdoon had still reached 65 for 0 when the fifteen-over power-play was done.
WCA captain Young turned to leg-spinner Hulatt to try to make the breakthrough. This came in the 16th over, McCrossin playing across the line and being bowled. McClymont's day then got no better as he came and went within three balls to leave Cambusdoon on 69 for two at the end of the sixteenth over.
Cambusdoon skipper Borland had also returned to the clubhouse seven balls later, mis-hitting Hulatt to point after having opened his account with a boundary four through mid-wicket. At 76 for three, the good start was fast becoming a distant memory, and the pendulum had firmly swung in the Academy's direction.
After having taken the first three Cambusdoon wickets, Hulatt was not yet finished. He went on to claim six of the first seven wickets to fall, the exception being McLaughlin's that came courtesy of Patterson being granted an LBW appeal as McLaughlin tried to work a delivery to leg.
Hulatt finished with six for 51 from his 15 overs, an impressive performance and one that almost single-handedly put paid to Cambusdoon's chances of chasing down the Academy's total. Hill and Patterson then shared wickets eight and nine as Cambusdoon's middle order and tail pushed the score on to 182 for nine, making it a comprehensive win for the Western Academy by 70 runs.
