Easy does it as County triumph

May 27 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING County bounced back from their Drumpellier despair last weekend to flattenForfarshire on Saturday in their latest Lloyds TSB Scottish National Cricket League Division One match.

County had a new face in their line-up – former St Modans professional Glenn Rogers, who has also had spells at Grange and Stenhousemuir before coming to the New Williamfield, writes Donald Morton.

The Aussie-born Scotland star lives in Stirling – and gave his new team-mates a major boost by taking three wickets before notching up an unbeaten 27 to lead the side home by five wickets.

The match hinged on a controversial decision which saw ex-Scotland skipper Ryan Watson depart for only one run. Watson played and missed at a Josh Edwards delivery and wandered out of his crease.

Wicket-keeper Graeme Taylor – who was to have a fine day behind the timbers with three catches and two stumpings – shied down the stumps and Watson was given out.

The pavilion remained intact – just – as Watson stormed off and his departure was the fillip County needed.

Forfarshire struggled against some tidy bowling and rarely looked at ease, collapsing to 103 all out. Rogers cemented his place with his new Stirling colleagues by taking three wickets for 15 in eight overs while his fellow spinner Tim Yeadon took three for 23. Seamer Richard Carswell also took three wickets – his first of the season.

Gavin Anderson and James Miller opened for Stirling and the latter was first out with the score on nine. A partnership of 44 between Anderson (14) and Edwards (24) took Stirling to 53 but both then departed. Ian McGhee and Rogers added another 32 before McGhee’s dismissal and Yeadon then took County to the brink of victory before falling.

Rogers then struck the winning runs off Watson to ease Stirling home with 12 overs to spare.

He’ll miss County next two fixtures at Penicuik and Poloc after being named in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup. Scotland will play New Zealand on June 6 and South Africa on June 7. Both matches are at The Oval.

Thanks to this week’s match ball sponsor Douglas Muirhead.

Forfarshire

G Garden c G Taylor b Carswell 12

C Wallace c G Taylor b Carswell 8

R Watson st G Taylor b Edwards 1

K Pickering b Carswell 5

A Bailwal c J Taylor b Rogers 19

U Mohammed c Khan b Yeadon 22

G McClelland b Yeadon 7

D Philip lbw b Rogers 0

H Philip st G Taylor b Rogers 13

G Black c G Taylor b Yeadon 1

G Quinn not out 0

Extras: 15

Total: 103 all out

Bowling: K Khan 7-3-8-0; R Carswell 8-0-40-3; J Edwards 9-4-17-1; G Rogers 8-1-15-3; T Yeadon 7.1-0-23-3

Stirling County

G Anderson lbw b Watson 14

J Miller c Watson b Pickering 6

J Edwards c Watson b Pickering 24

I McGhee c Wallace b Mohammed 13

G Rogers not out 27

T Yeadon c H Philip b Black 10

P Rees not out 0

Extras: 12

Total: 106 for five

AFTER seven consecutive call-offs due to weather in 2008 and 2009, Stirling 2nds finally managed to complete a game on Saturday.

In a tense match against Freuchie 2nds in their Baillie Gifford East League Division Two match, Stirling were victors by 18 runs.

They lost an early wicket but Tom Davies (47) clubbed the Fifers’ attack to all parts of the ground to give Stirling a great start.

Sean Ferrie (58) and Matthew Tweedie (35) added 60 and a flurry of runs came near the end as Stirling ended on 194 for six.

Like Stirling, the home side lost an early wicket but then flayed the bowling to put them in command. But back came Stirling with three wickets for Jonathan Bowes and two for Adnan Akram to give them the upper hand.

Freuchie edged closer but two wickets from Shakeel Shakoor and the last one to skipper Paul Bielby ensured victory.

SKIPPER Sandy Watt led from the front for Stirling 3rds in their three-wicket win over Morton in East League Division Six at New Williamfield.

The visitors batted first and scored 154 for eight in 45 overs with Watt taking three for 25.

In reply, Grant Cordiner’s 44 was the mainstay of the innings and his partnership with Chris Morton (26) was crucial.

Unfortunately, both were dismissed within a few balls of each but Watt (36 not out) and youngster Akram Shakoor saw Stirling home.

THIS weekend sees the unusual scenario of a Stirling County v Penicuik triple-header. County visit ’Cuik’s senior outfit in a Lloyds TSB SNCL Division One while the 2nds host Penicuik 2nds at New Williamfield in a Baillie Gifford East League Division Two match.

Finally both clubs’ 3rd XIs meet at Beeslack High School in Penicuik in an East League Division Six game.