Scottish Cricket: Beven brings down curtain on 15 successful seasons (3 Sep 1998)

3 September 1998

Scottish Cricket: Beven brings down curtain on 15 successful seasons

By Keith Graham

IAN Beven will end his 15-year association with Scottish cricket with a farewell match at Grange's Raeburn Place ground on Saturday before returning to his native Tasmania. Many of the off-spinner's former playing colleagues at club and international level will be turning out.

Beven first came to Scotland in 1983 as West of Scotland's professional and later moved to Grange before spending two seasons with West Lothian. He returned to Grange to play as an amateur two years ago, playing 11 years in all for the Edinburgh club.

He also won 27 caps for Scotland, his first game being at Lord's against the MCC in 1992 where he marked his debut by trapping Basil Butcher lbw with his first ball.

Last year, Beven played a key role in Scotland's successful quest for a World Cup place during their ICC Trophy campaign in Malaysia where, in the later, key stages of the competition, he found himself opening the bowling, a tactic which proved to be highly effective. He was Scotland's leading wicket taker with 17 victims and his accuracy was such that his economy rate was 2.82 runs per over. In all, he has taken 49 wickets at 23.45 runs apiece in full internationals for his adopted country.

Still acknowledged as the best off-spinner in Scotland, Beven, 40 this year, played a major role last weekend when Grange scored two important victories.

Firstly, he took four wickets as Grange beat local rivals Heriot's to top Conference A of the Scottish National League and, the following day, took two vital late wickets as his side beat Prestwick by one run in the final of the Scottish Cup.

No mean performer with the bat, he has scored over nine thousand runs including nine centuries but it is his bowling for which he will be remembered.

Delivering his bowling from his full height and renowned for his supreme control, he nevertheless gives the ball a real tweak and unleashes a superbly disguised arm ball.

He has taken 1,051 wickets at club and international level and during his time at Grange they have won the Scottish Cup six times, the East League five times, the Scottish League title once, the Scottish section of the Abbot Ale Cup three times and the Masterton Trophy on five occasions.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)