Galloway Cricket Club’s firsts travelled to Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds to take on newcomers Mearns CC in a Western Prem 3 match on Saturday – and returned with a wonderful victory.
The two teams, bottom and next to bottom of the ladder, met on an absolute scorcher of a day on the well-equipped Hamilton Palace Sports Ground – the only downside being an artificial wicket.
The weather topping 26 degrees meant a reduced overs match of 35 per side, probably beneficial due to the home team’s logistical issues.
Stand-in skipper Phil McMenemy won the toss and asked the home side to bat first on a worn artificial strip.
Absentees and lack of availability meant this was a much-changed Galloway 11 – but a Galloway 11 who gave absolutely everything they had and ought be very proud of their efforts.
Wickets fell throughout the Mearns innings with great bowling and tight outfielding and good hands to the fore.
In all, seven bowlers were used with each contributing – perhaps the picks being Sudhi with 3-27, Rasel Mia 3-20 and an enterprising firsts debut for Arif Ullah.
Only home batsmen Gupta, who made a sterling 70, Pathak and the dogged Singh helped the total to 181 – the last few overs received some punishment perhaps due in part to the exhaustion and heat.
Galloway had Mearns at 110 for eight but the ninth wicket added nearly 70 to further drain the Galloway efforts.
Great in the field but still far too many – 29 – wides gifting the opponents 40 overs in actuality.
But at tea, Mearns completed their innings all out for 181, the last wicket falling in the final over.
Teas in the shade and lots of fluid were the order of the day before the Galloway innings commenced.
Juggling the batting line-up, stand-in skipper McMenemy opted to open with the dependable Carr and the strokeplay of Ajith Vu.
Ajith fell for nine and was quickly followed back to the shade by Arif Ullah. This brought together the partnership-of the-day between Carr and Akhil Sudhi – both batted well and took the score along to more than 60 before Carr perished for a well-made 23.
By the time Carr departed Akhil had hit his straps and let loose on anything deserving of his special treatment – the next two partnerships added nearly 90 runs – between Akhil and Domanic and Akhil and McMenemy.
When you consider that Domanic made only six and McMenemy only seven you can see the damage wrought by the magnificent Akhil.
Four consecutive smashed sixes, one clearing the rope, the cycle-track, walkway and mature trees was a sight to behold, and other lusty blows brought Akhil towards three figures which he duly achieved with another straight-launched six – a truly stunning innings, which proved a match winner for the Galloway 11.
The eventual winning runs were smashed through the onside by a delighted Shohel for a wonderful victory.
Akhil Sudhi finished on 109 not out, hitting 10 sixes and eight fours – meaning 84 of his runs came in boundaries.
This was a great morale-boosting victory away from home against a welcoming club on a scorching day – plaudits to Akhil.
Mearns CC: 181 all out – Gupta 70, Pathak 22, Singh 20; Rasel Mia 3-20, Akhil Sudhi 3-27, Ajith Vu 1-10.
Galloway CC: 184-6 off 29 overs – Akhil 109no, Carr 23, Ajith 9, McMenemy 7.
Thanks go to Galloway Lodge for their continued sponsorship.
Galloway’s next game is away to East Kilbride on June 17.
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