Scottish Cricket: Pylon stops play in first-day fiasco (5 May 1998)

5 May 1998

Scottish Cricket: Pylon stops play in first-day fiasco

By Keith Graham

THE first full day of League action in Scotland was marked by controversy when the Conference game at Raeburn Place between Edinburgh Accies and Clydesdale could not be played because a floodlight pylon used for rugby training had not been removed.

The offending structure was no more than 10 metres from the wicket itself and, quite rightly, the visiting players were not prepared to risk injury and therefore declined to play. A report has gone to the League committee.

The incident means that the Glasgow club have yet to play their first game in the new competition. Even more galling for acting captain, Rennie Keith, standing in for Greig Williamson, on international duty, was the fact that had the Edinburgh club acted promptly, the game could easily have been switched to Titwood.

The impact of international call-ups, with Scotland in action against Yorkshire at Boghall, had little effect on domestic action. All but one of the teams supplying players for Scotland won, the exception being Prestwick, minus Drew Parsons, who were comfortably beaten by Aberdeenshire, who were without Mike Smith and Kevin Thomson.

Aberdeenshire are already showing they will be a force to be reckoned with in Section C. It was their Australian pace man Mike Wigney who unseated the Prestwick batsmen with a decisive return of six for 21 as the visitors were skittled out for 114, a total soon surpassed by the home team for the loss of only four wickets.

The surprise of the section came at Uddingston, where the home team came within a whisker of beating strongly-fancied Ferguslie in a tight finish which saw the visitors hold on at 94 for eight even though they were only chasing 104.

The Paisley side must have been well pleased with their performance in the field, with last year's top amateur bowler from New Zealand, Jamie Graham, taking four for 38. Alan Burgess, on his League debut for his new club, took three for 12 and the ever-reliable Stuart Kennedy three for 36.

Mike Hussey gave them a good start with the bat and Sandy Strang to see his team through to the safety of a draw. Freuchie also scraped a draw at home to Greenock.

Ayr made short work of chasing Arbroath's 205 for eight at Robertson's Field. Bruce Patterson's absence was forgotten as Alan Simpson (56), Ashley Hopper (71) and Kevin Roberts (53 not out) secured victory.

In Conference A, Grange also dealt ruthlessly with Forfarshire, who were undermined by Ian Beven (four for 25) and his fellow Tasmanian Andrew Dykes (four for 37) as they slumped to 116 all out, Grange later cruising to a five-wicket win.

Stenhousemuir beat Dunfermline, Heriot's overcame Edinburgh rivals Watsonians and GHK triumphed over Kelburne at Whitehaugh. The Section B winners were West of Scotland at home to RHSM, Carlton at Perth and Stoneywood Dyce at Corstorphine.

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