County on top on all fronts

Jun 3 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING County put Penicuik to the sword in a record-breaking day for the New Williamfield club.

On a unique Saturday, both clubs met at 1st XI, 2nd XI and 3rd XI – and it was County who came out on top on each occasion!

In their Lloyds TSB Scottish National Cricket League Division One match at Penicuik, County produced an all-round performance to win by 120 runs.

Stirling 2nds opening batsmen Alan Simpson and Matthew Tweedie had an opening partnership of 168 – one of the highest in the club’s history – in their 19-run win over Penicuik 2nds in a Baillie Gifford East League Division Two match.

And in the 3rd XI, batsmen Andrew Lees scored what may well be the biggest-ever individual score in the club’s long history when he hit Penicuik 3rds for 203 not out – including 28 fours and seven sixes.

It meant a 3-0 win over the ‘Cuik and welcome league points for all three clubs.

At Kirkhill, Stirling batted first and they were indebted to staunch innings from Tim Yeadon (33), Phil Rees (52) and Ian McGhee (53) as they reached 218 for eight.

Penicuik, however, found runs hard to come by, losing both openers for zero and slumping at one stage to 30 for five. Stirling professional Kabir Khan bowled seven overs, taking two wickets and conceding only four runs to put Penicuik behind the clock from the start.

Richard Carswell took three for 44 to continue his good form and New Zealand amateur Tim Yeadon recorded his best figures this season with four for 19.

On Saturday, County are on their travels again when they visit NVT Poloc, who were relegated last season

Thanks go to matchball sponsor John Cleary.

Stirling County

J Taylor c Aslam b Hutton 19

J Miller c Steel b Mitchell 0

J Edwards c Steel b Hutton 11

I McGhee c K Morton b Ramzan 53

T Yeadon b W Morton 33

P Rees c W Morton b Ramzan 52

T Davies b Hutton 0

K Khan c Steel b Hutton 8

R Carswell not out 4

G Taylor not out 1

Extras: 37

Total: 218 for eight

Penicuik

K Steel b Carswell 0

J Hutton b Khan 0

M Ramzan c and b Carswell 27

G Ruthven c G Taylor b Yeadon 21

Aslam lbw b Khan 0

W Morton lbw b Carswell 0

K Morton b Edwards 2

I Kirkhope c G Taylor b Yeadon 18

R Davidson c J Taylor b Yeadon 3

J Mitchell st G Taylor b Yeadon 3

G Leslie not out 1

Extras 15

Total: 98 all out.

Bowling: R Carswell 10-1-44-3; K Khan 7-3-4-2; J Edwards 8-4-13-1; T Yeadon 7-1-19-4; J Bowes 1-0-13-0

STIRLING 2nd XI won comfortably in the end against Penicuik 2nds at New Williamfield on Saturday but they made heavy weather of it.

Club groundsman Alan Simpson showed his “baby” was in fine nick when he scored 101 in an opening partnership of 168 with Matthew Tweedie, who recorded his fist senior half-century, making 53.

But on a glorious day on a batsmen’s wicket, the Stirling lads wilted in the heat, losing seven wickets for 14 runs.

It took John Howell to his a quick-fire 21 near the end to help Stirling to 216 for nine when they looked at one point to be heading for 300.

The visitors also found the wicket to their liking, recording 50 partnerships for the first two wickets but runs were coming slowly and Penicuik were always behind the clock.

When top scorer Hussein (51) was bowled by Shakeel Shakoor, the game was over for Penicuik although they gamely batted on to the end, finishing on 197 all out. Pick of the bowlers was Pirin Reitze, who took four for 40.

On Saturday, the 2nds face Westquarter at New Williamfield.

BATSMAN Andrew Lees enjoyed a welcome beer on Saturday after thumping 203 not for Stirling 3rds against their Penicuik counterparts at Beeslack High School on Saturday.

The home side toiled to get 11 players, taking the field with only nine bodies including a few of the club’s talented under 13s.

Lees and Joe Fitzgibbon (37) added 128 for the first wicket and both Grant Cordner and Alasdair Wildman fell but Mike van Vuuren’s 32 not out along with Lees’ 203 took Stirling to 319 for three.

To their credit, Penicuik found the plastic Beeslack pitch to their liking as well but with a power hitter like Lees, they were never going to get near Stirling’s score and ended on 171 all out. Fitzgibbon with two for 27 and Robin Weatherston with two for 31 were pick of the bowlers.

On Saturday, the 3rd XI travel to Livingston 2nd.