Scottish Cricket: Lacklustre Aberdeen's lead slips (27 July 1999)

27 July 1999

Scottish Cricket: Lacklustre Aberdeen's lead slips

Keith Graham

West of Scotland overtook Aberdeenshire at the top of the Scottish National Cricket League Premiership after Saturday's convincing six-wicket victory over Heriot's at Goldenacre. The erstwhile leaders, who gave a lacklustre performance on home territory, collected only eight points from their draw with Carlton.

West of Scotland achieved their victory without major contributions from their two leading players, with Corey Richards out first ball and Craig Wright failing to take a wicket. Heriot's contributed to their own demise by failing to capitalise on a solid foundation laid by their early batsmen, in particular Mike Allingham, and reached a modest 179 with only four wickets down in their 50 overs.

Richards and Wright made an immediate return to form on Sunday when they led West to an even more comfortable victory in their Scottish Cup semi-final against Prestwick. The Australian rattled up 59 and Wright scored a blistering 95 from 77 balls in a total of 235 for four. Prestwick could muster only 143 in reply.

Boghall's green acres were the setting for a run-feast. On Saturday, West Lothian ran up a mammoth 314 for three, with Craig Light making an imperious 127 and Ayaz Gul nudging the Scottish selectors with a fluent unbeaten 114.

Ayr's response was led by Alan Simpson and Bruce Patterson, who each had fifties in a century opening stand, but once they had gone the momentum was lost and with the home attack showing a lack of penetration, a draw became inevitable.

The sides met again on Sunday, on the same strip, in the Scottish Cup semi-final, but this time it was Ayr who won convincingly to earn a place in the final against West of Scotland. They were steered home by Patterson and Graeme Rummans, whose 83 saw them past West Lothian's 213.

Aberdeenshire are suffering a dip in form with captain Neil MacRae able to do no more than avert defeat by making 56 not out on Saturday, which left the home team trailing 55 runs behind Carlton's 221 for five with four wickets in hand.

Defeats for Stoneywood Dyce and Ferguslie at the hands of Greenock and Grange, respectively, leave them increasingly isolated at the bottom of the table.

Scotland's selectors have had to make changes in their side to face the South African Academy XI at Lochside Park, Forfar, this morning, in the first of a series of four one-day internationals. Parsons and Steve Crawley have had to withdraw with Lockhart and Watts coming in.

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