West Lothian II: 216-6
Livingston: 219-2 (42.2 overs)
Following last weeks defeat, Livingston were back to third place on the table, needing a win to keep the promotion push and division title chances alive. Navid won the toss and put the visitors in on a damp pitch, with a shortened boundary and a surprisingly fast outfield.
West Lothian's openers batted with cool heads and did not spoon chances the way that most visiting batsmen do. Livingston's bowlers on the other hand failed to keep a consistent length, and provided plenty of loose balls for the batsmen to score from. Navid bowled both openers, and Salman took their No.3 and No.4. The middle order looked very uncomfortable, but the bowlers again failed to maintain the pressure, allowing a 5th wicket partnership of 94 to develop. Jim was probably the pick of the bowlers and was rewarded with a wicket in the closing stages of the innings. Silky took another good catch in the deep, and XYDO took a better one - it's a shame he was a spectator and standing over the boundary at the time. West Lothian finished with a dangerous looking 216-6 from their 50 overs.
Livingston started their reply conifidently, with Anand again in fine form, although he survived a confident appeal early in his innings. With one eye on the closing weather, Anand kept the score at the target run rate, while Silky and Neil provided patient support. Livingston passed the key 30 over point ahead of schedule for the loss of only 2 wickets. Sohby grew in confidence as his innings progressed, and began to score freely, accelerating the run rate. Livingston sealed the victory in the 43rd over, with Anand unbeaten on 108, the team's first century of the season, and Sohby on 68.
However, with play possible on a pitch that really wasn't too bad, Jim's ground keeping was the outstanding performance of the game.
N. Asghar: |
10-1-34-2 |
A. Kumar: |
108* |
S. Aslam: |
5-1-24-2 |
S. Asghar: |
68* |
|
Comments
For XYDO: form is temporary, class is permanent.
Cheers DV...one day you'll demonstrate that when you return to the playing fold.