1s Up to 4th Print
Written by Robert Bowering   
Saturday, 26 July 2014 20:46

This week was a real struggle to put out 2 sides, with injuries, holidays and Ramadan each having an impact.  As a result both the 1s and the 2s entered their games with only 9 players per side, although it has to be added that Aidan Paton aged 9 supported the 1s as a fielder in their game.  A big thank you goes to him and others who changed their plans to play.

Is Aidan the youngest player to have turned out for the 1s in a league match?

It has to be said being short of players we perhaps didn't expect a great result from the game against 3rd placed Clackmannan.  Bobby won the toss for only the 2nd time this season and chose to bat in glorious conditions.  Simon went quite early, however Bobby and Soby soon got into their stride taking the score to 67-1 in the 11th over before the heavens opened.  The covers were put on in slightly the wrong order and as a result some water got through onto the track.  When the rain stopped, there was standing water on the square, however the sandbanding had definitely done it's job in the outfield.  The supersopper was put to use and the water was cleared in no time and play started within 20 mins of the rain stopping.

Conditions changed, the outfield had slowed and the bowlers began to move it all over the place, as a result 67-1 became 116 all out after 27.1 overs.

It didn't seem like a winning score for Livi and Clackmannan certainly appeared confident.  We knew that their opener T Mehboob would attack from the outset and a trap was set, which he fell for in the first over, although the catch was dropped.  Was it going to be our day.  We didn't have to wait long for the first wicket, caught Bobby bowled Hamad and after that it was definitely a bowlers game, although it has to be said that the visitors played a far too aggressive game which played into our hands.

Feraz got rid of the dangerous Mehboob, both he and Hamad left their top order in tatters at 32-4 with 2 wickets a piece.  Their captain then came in and seemed to take a liking to the pace of Feraz so Bobby switched it and brought on Jim, who took 2 wickets in his first over, one with a great catch by Murray Paton.  Jim went on to take 3 for 1.  Hamad was replaced by Navid who then came on and cleaned up the remaining players taking 2 wickets for 1 run and Clackmannan were dismissed for 51 and a comprehensive win for the 1s.

With SMRH losing to Dunnikier, Livi move up to 4th just behind Clackmannan.  4 matches remain against MDAFs, SMRH, Fauldhouse & Broomhall.  4 wins would take us to 81.9% so we need Dunnikier & Kelso to trip up in the last few weeks of the season for us to have a chance of promotion, however if we continue to win we will be ready to take advantage of any slip ups by them.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 August 2014 16:49