Sunday 21st August - Forthill XI - home (Division 2)
PSCC XI 73 all out lost to Forthill XI 74-3 by 7 wickets.
Despite some monsoon like localised downpours over the previous 24 hours this Division 2 match went ahead on a playable, if a little soft, wicket. As skipper Mearns staggered out to toss up, the thought of fielding for 45 overs after Saturday night's 'team social', was obviously weighing heaviliy on his mind, and as Forthill skipper Sim called incorrectly, despite all cricketing logic saying 'have a bowl', the skipper couldn't get the words 'we'll bat' out quick enough.
Hopes that the pitch might not do as much as it looked like it would were soon dashed. Hill and Cameron bowled a good line and length and the ball was zipping about. Wickets began to tumble and when Carnegie was introduced to bowl some gentle in swingers, they began falling at an even faster rate. Although Carnegie's appearance made it look like he'd joined the home team on the previous night's bash, he obviously had a clear head as he cleaned up with impressive figures of 5-22. Only a late flourish from Armstrong Jnr and Garnett hauled the score up to 74.
Forthill's youngsters had done the damage with the ball, and the youngsters were tasked with chasing down the target. Despite some fine accurate bowling from Raghu and the now livelier Mearns, the target was reached in the 28th over with 7 wickets to spare.
Another defeat for the 2's but once again a valuable run out for many of the clubs U-15 players which will only help going into next season.
Saturday 20th August - Kinloch - away (Premier)
PSCC 154 all out beat Kinloch 44 all out by 110 runs.
Strathearn finished off their 2011 Clubsport Strathmore Union Premier Division campaign with a resounding 111 run victory over bottom placed Kinloch at St Andrews. In what was in all probability the club’s final top team fixture before a winter merger with the other Doo’cot Park clubs, Strathy went out on a high and a run of five wins in their final six games ensured a fifth placed finish in the final standings.
Having arrived at the ground in good time, the players were perturbed to find that no wicket had been prepared at the University ground due to an administration error. However a wicket was quickly cut and the match got underway slightly later than planned with Strathearn asked to bat first upon losing the toss. Gordon McKinnie passed the landmark of 13,500 runs the previous week but on his final 1st team appearance, he couldn’t add another run to his career tally as he was first out for a duck. Fraser Mearns soon followed at 13-2 and the visitors were toiling on a tricky wicket which was assisting the bowlers. Paul Tramontanas was joined by Andy Crawford and this pair, whilst careful of the inconsistent bounce, made smooth progress towards a decent score. The pair had moved the score on to 56 when Tramontanas got one that popped and was smartly caught having scored 24.His dismissal then sparked a steady stream of wickets with the following five batsmen scoring a meagre seven runs between themselves. Whilst the carnage went on around him , Crawford continued to play a fine innings and reached a well deserved fifty which included one towering six. When he was dismissed a shade unluckily for 55 off a bump ball, the visitors sat at 116-9 with 15 overs still to go. However a sensible partnership of 38 between Paddy Murray(20) and Ivor Patterson(13n/o) got through all bar one of the remaining overs before the former was run out with 154 on the board.
The realisation at tea was that 154 was akin to nearly 250 on a decent wicket and the opening bowlers set out in confident mood to defend their total. Murray struck first in the fourth over to remove the dangerous Shakir and by the time the twelve overs had gone, Kinloch were in disarray at 13-4. With barely any runs coming from the bat, Murray completed his nine overs with a third wicket to return fabulous figures of 9-6-6-3 which was aided by two fine catches in the slips. Jonathan Hill (2-10) provided good support at the other end as Kinloch crawled to 22-5 after 20 overs. Spinner Brock Ditchman took over and despite some early treatment , he began to run through the remainder of the home line up although like Murray, he was indebted to good catches from Sanu Das and Tramontanas. With Ditchman taking four wickets to leave Kinloch 34-9, overseas amateur Das came on to attempt to claim the final wicket in his last game before returning to India but despite a couple of strong appeals, it was Ditchman who claimed the final wicket to register figures of 5-13 as Kinloch were skittled for 43. A fifth placed finish was a satisfactory end to a mixed season which had it started as it finished, then an SNCL play-off place could have been on the cards for this weekend.
Saturday 13th August - Dundee HSFP - home (Premier)
DHSFP 142-7 lost to PSCC 145-5 by 5 wickets.
In their final home game of the Clubsport Premier Division season, skipper Ivor Patterson yet again won the toss and on a pitch which hadn’t had the benefits of the broken covers during a very wet week, he had no hesitation in asking his visiting counterpart to bat first. With the pitch only just passing an inspection late morning, scoring was always going to be tricky early on and Strathy made the first breakthrough in the third over when Paddy Murray had Hunter caught at slip. Ross Tait then took the vital scalp of Kevin Ancell in his fifth over to leave High School struggling on 15-2 after 10 overs. Pattersons introduction to the attack maintained the vice like grip on the scoring although he had no wickets to show for his spell of nine overs for thirteen runs. The visitors were unable to break the shackles and when Horne became Brock Ditchman’s third wicket in the 32nd over, the visitors score was a paltry 63-5. Skipper Landwehr joined Rennie at the wicket and the captain’s more aggressive approach finally spread to Rennie and they somehow managed to haul their side to a more respectable total with a stand of 60 before Landwehr fell 36 just before the end of the innings as they closed on 142-7. Rennie crawled to an unbeaten 51 at the close whilst Murray(3-20) and Ditchman(3-25) were the stand outs for Strathearn.
Having seen the difficulties encountered by the High School batsmen, veteran openers David Patton and Gordon McKinnie decided a more aggressive approach was required in the early stages. The pair shared a productive opening stand at Mannofield the week before and they continued their fine understanding with a brisk start to the Strathy reply. The pair posted a third consecutive 50 opening partnership before Patton (19) fell first in the 13th over with 52 on the board. McKinnie was by now dominating the scoring rate with a range of attractive strokes and he went on to reach a well deserved half century as the visitors struggled to compete. Having made 57 , he miscued a big hit and was second out at 96 in the 25th over. In making his fifty which was also his 76th in a career which started in the late 60’s, McKinnie (58) also passed a personal landmark of 13,500 runs scored in his club career which puts him up with a select few in Scottish club cricket and it was fitting that he did so on a ground where he has played much of his cricket.
Having dominated the lacklustre visiting attack, McKinnie’s dismissal saw a mini collapse and the hosts were soon 105-4 as High School sensed an opportunity to steal a win which would have kept their title hopes alive. However Robert Thomson (23) steadied things before falling near the end as Strathearn finally passed the winning post in the 35th over with 145-5 on the board. A victory in their final match away to Kinloch tomorrow should be enough to ensure a top five finish in the top division.
Sunday 14th August - Arbroath Utd XI - away (Division 2)
AUCC XI 231 all out beat PSCC XI 84 all out by 147 runs.
Strathy were hampered before even setting off with three call offs late in the morning. As it was they eventually travelled with nine players and having been asked to field first, they made a grand start with Hill’s opening over seeing two wickets fall for no runs. However reality set in and on a super batting wicket, Arbroath pulled away with Mark Edwards(41) and Craig Cameron sharing 84 for the third wicket before the former was a victim for Fraser Mearns in the 17th over. Mearns then turned the game on its head as he took another 3 wickets in a spell which saw four wickets fall in eight balls as the hosts plummeted to 101-6. Unfortunately Cameron then received solid support from veteran David Bridges (28) and the pair had added 90 for the seventh wicket before Cameron chased a wide one and was agonisingly caught in the covers for 92. The hosts were all out in the final over for 231 with Mearns’ 4-28 being the stand out performance.
Strathy made a fine start in reply and had moved smoothly to 42 in the 11th over when a sharp call for a single by Andy Crawford left Fraser Mearns too much to do and he was run out for 18 when looking set for a good score. This proved to be the beginning of the end for the visitors and despite Crawford scoring a classy 41, his dismissal at 74-4 signalled the end of the Strathy challenge and after 24 overs had gone, the final wicket fell with the score at 84 to give Arbroath a handsome win by 147 runs with Craig MaKay returning fine figures of 6-9.
Saturday 6th August - Mannofield - away (Premier)
PSCC 176-9 lost to Mannofield 178-3 by 7 wickets.
Batting first the Strathy openers got off to a fine start in this must win game for the visitors. McKinnie (22) and Patton (29) took the score to 63 without loss, before McKinnie was bowled by Chandu and Patton caught off the bowling or West with no further additions to the scoreboard. 63-2 became 70-3 as Tramontanas was clean bowled again by Chandu, and the away team were in the middle of throwing away a good start. This set the tone for the rest of the innings with wickets being given away cheaply, until a stand of 43 between Mearns (23) and Oswald (25) helped the visitors to a tea time total of 176-9.
In reply, current league champions Mannofield lost opener Plender for 11 caught by Thomson off the bowling of Murray, but from this point a combination of good batting and dropped catches took Nathakumarran (67*) and Smith (64) to a stand of 108, to all but seal victory for the homeside. Smith's hard hitting innings came to an end when clean bowled by Tramontanas, who also accounted for Lewis but a home victory was secured with 7 wickets to spare.
A dissapointing trip north for Strathy, which now makes it virtually impossible for the team to claim a National League play off spot at the end of the season, although, in truth, poor form at the start of the season is more to blame for this outcome, rather than defeat on this always difficult trip north.
Sunday 31st July - Almond Valley - home (Division 2)
PSCC XI 164-6 lost to Almond Valley 165-6 by 4 wickets.
The second team lost this local 'derby' by four wickets at home to local rivals Almond Valley. Callum Laing was the main performer for the hosts with a steady 57 not out as a target of 164-6 was posted. Despite Laing’s three wicket haul and an economical spell from youngster Rory Pennycook the visitors reached the target with 4 wickets to spare, thanks in the main to John McKenzie (46) and Richard Miller who carried his bat through the innings for a dogged 37 not out.
Saturday 30th July - Arbroath Utd - home (Premier)
AUCC 167-9 lost to PSCC 170-3 by 7 wickets.
Having hauled themselves up the Premier Division Table over the past two weekends, this third victory on the spin lifts the Perth team into the upper reaches of the table, with sights now set on a top four finish. Home skipper Patterson won the toss and inserted the Angus team to take first use of the wicket. Openers Swan and Pedgrift proceeded to build a fine opening stand taking the score beyond fifty before Patterson himself came on to bowl and took three quick wickets changing the momentum of the game. The Arbroath top six all made it into double figures but none were able to really take advantage of the good starts and wickets fell at regular intervals as the home side took control. The Arbroath innings ended on 167-9 as Ditchmen, Oswald and Das were all rewarded with wickets.
The reply was build on the solid foundation of the highest opening stand of the season by Mearns and Patton. Mearns fell to the bowling of Ross for 18 with the score on 60. Tramontanas, for once failed to capitalize on a good start and fell for 15 off the bowling of Fleming, but Ditchmen joined Patton and took the home team to the brink of victory. Patton was unfortunately run out for a fine 71 with the winning post in sight but a seven wicket win had been secured.
With three games to play the team take the testing trip to play Mannofield in Aberdeen this Saturday hoping to continue the good run, and keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Saturday 23rd July - Strathmore - away (Premier)
PSCC 166-8 beat Strathmore 73 all out by 93 runs.
Having gained a much needed win the previous weekend at Meigle, Strathy were determined to improve their league position still further in the knowledge that a win would see them move above their hosts for the day. For once Ivor Patterson called wrong at the toss and with a line up missing some experienced regulars, Strathmore captain Gary Hewitson chose to have a bowl first. Knowing that the visitors opening stands don’t usually take up a great deal of time , it was a wise choice and sure enough , the Strathy openers didn’t disappoint with both removed with the score at 14-2 in the seventh over. With Hewitson and his opening partner Sean Wilkie both bowling very tightly, runs were hard to come by on a tricky surface for attacking strokeplay. However it was the introduction of Fraser Couston which created a flurry of wickets for the hosts. Despite bowling a variable selection of deliveries, many of which were too wide to get near to, Couston somehow got a small number in the general direction of the batsmen to plunder 3-20 in six overs of bowling to leave Strathearn struggling on 56-5 which soon after, became 78-6 in the 25th over when Fraser Mearns top edged down to fine leg. Sanu Das and Jonathan Hill realised crease occupation was the top priority and slowly managed to stabilise the innings. Das was the more attacking of the two and displaying some lovely cover drives, he reached a well earned half century before departing the next ball at 146-7 in the 42nd over with the seventh wicket partnership totalling 68. A flurry of late runs were added to take Strathearn to 166-8 at the close of their innings with Hill unbeaten on 38.
With the pitch showing signs of deterioration late in their innings, Strathearn knew a few early wickets would probably go a long way to sealing maximum points. In his second over Hill claimed two wickets which was followed by Ross Tait claiming another victim next over to leave Strathmore reeling on 7-3. Seeing the carnage at the other end , Gary Hewitson looked to attack whenever possible and depite Hill (3-20) claiming another wicket , Strathmore’s run rate was in good shape if wickets were kept intact. With a willing partner in Wilkie, the Forfar duo started to pick runs up at a good pace and it took the introduction of Brock Ditchman to settle the visitor’s nerves by breaking the threatening partnership in his first over when Hewitson was adjudged LBW for 20 with the score at 51-5. Ditchman then started to scythe through the Strathmore lower order with ease and in picking up excellent figures of 5-13 from only four overs, he dismissed top scorer Wilkie (27) thanks to a test match quality diving catch by Sanu Das at mid wicket which was catch of the season material. Das rounded off a fine personal performance by claiming the final wicket in the 22nd over with the hosts shot out for 73. The victory moves Strathearn up to mid table alongside Meigle on 60% and hopefully safe from any relegation worries.
Saturday 16th July - Meigle - away (Premier)
Meigle 138 all out lost to PSCC 139-6 by 4 wickets.
In season of wet weekend weather the first team were amazed to get the call from Meigle that all was well in the East Perthshire Village, as flash floods wreaked havoc across the Fair City. Sure enough on arrival at Victory Park, the monsoon was a distant memory as a (relatively) dry pitch awaited.
Meigle were invited to take first use of the wicket and the visitors were soon on top as Tait and Hill struck early to remove the openers. As is the norm against Strathearn Peter Drummond settled at the crease and made a well crafted half century which was the backbone of the innings. However wickets continued to all at the other end as Brock Ditchmen took 3-16 and was the pick of the attack as the home team were bowled out for 138.
The reply was soon in trouble as both openers Thomson and McKinnie were removed cheaply. Andy Crawford in his first match for the club injected some real energy into the innings with a quickfire 26, and was particulalry harsh on anything pitch up to the bat. Das and Ditchmen moved the score on toward the century mark before Das fell for 13 and then Ditchmen for 46 attempting the clear the boundary. Hill and Oswald batted sensibly from here on to register the teams' first win since May, and provide some momentum going into the final 5 league matches, all of which realistically must be won, to have any chance of reaching the SNCL Play Offs.
Sunday 3rd July - Strathmore XI - away (Division 2)
PSCC 173-8 lost to Strathmore XI 176-9 by one wicket.
Batting first PSCC posted a decent score with veteran Gordon McKinnie the backbone of the innings with an excellent 88 not out. Matt Piper made 19 batting at number three but unfortunately no-one was really able to stay with McKinnie and take the score above the 200 mark. The hosts made steady progress to the victory target with McLaren, who was the stand out batsmen when the two teams met back in May, again the tormentor with a fine 60. The game moved towards an exciting finish but the men from Forfar crept home with one wicket to spare. Imran was the pick of the PSCC bowlers with 3-30.
Saturday 2nd July - Huntly - away (Premier)
Huntly 179-5 tied with PSCC 179-8.
The Strathearn first team made their longest trip of the campaign to Huntly, and with the home team batting first the team had early success. The 'Highlanders' were soon on the back foot, as Das removed opener Tait for a duck. However his opening partnerr Howard was dropped off the bowling of Hill, after gloving a short ball, something that was to prove costly in terms of the result, as Howard went on to make 84. The home team made steady progress but were stifled in the middle of the innings by tight bowling from Das and in particular Ditchmen who finsihed with miserly figures of 1 for 11 off his 9 overs. At the end of the 45 overs a score of 179-5 was on the board.
Mearns and Thomson opened the reply and the former was soon back in the pavillion bowled by Patterson, who soon after accounted for Piper in the same fashion. Thomson and Ditchmen then added over 100 as they put together a solid partnership, setting the platform for an exciting finish. Thomson fell for 47, but Ditchmen kept the innings ticking along before falling to a tired shot on 71 with victory in sight. Nerves then set in as wickets began to fall leaving 11 required off the last over. A wide, a couple of scampered singles, and a boundary through extra cover from Hill, left the equation of 3 off the final two balls. Hill was on strike but was then clean bowled, looking to finish the game with a shot through mid-wicket. Vadada came to the crease and connected well with the final delivery but sent it spiralling into the air, under which the Huntly fielder set himself for a match winning catch. However the ball was fumbled and the batsmen ran two to secure a tie, in a great finish to a close match.
Saturday 25th June - Stoneywood Dyce - home (Premier)
PSCC 150 all out lost to SDCC 151-4 by 6 wickets.
The toss in this match, whilst not crucial, was almost going to be an important factor on a wicket that has experienced some pretty awful weather in the last month or so. Unfortunatey the coin came down on the wrong side for home team skipper Patterson. The host were swiftly asked to take first use of the strip, and within minutes of the start found themselves three down with only 6 runs on the board, with Piper, Thomson and Das all back in the pavillion. Tramontanas was at the crease enduring a barage of sledging from the away team, which only served to focus the experienced number 3, who looked in determined mood, as he laid the foundations for a long spell in the middle. Depite his defiance he was struggling for partners as wickets continued to tumble at the other end, and with the score on 87-7, only Mckenzie had offered any support at Tramontanas passed the fifty mark. Patterson fell LBW soon after and Vadada was next in to offer support in the hope the score could be raised above the 120 mark and offer the home team some hope of a positive result.
Tramontanas was now managing the strike well and Vadada was providing stubborn resistance at the other end. The score passed the 120 mark before the number 10 succumbed to a top edge, leaving Tramontanas on 81 not out as last man Tait joined him in the middle. With 5 over remaining the last pair batted sensibly with Tait doing a sound job of keeping out the few balls he needed to face. Off the first ball of the final over Tramontanas pushed a full len gth ball to long on, for the single that brought up a well deserved hundred, but as he turned for two, the second was not on and Tait was run out at the far end, leaving Tramontanas on 100 not out, out of a final score of 150 all out.
After the tea break the host were looking for quick wickets against the league leaders boosted by the addition of 2-3 first team regulars, their SNCL team without a game. One of those players Leask survived a very close LBW shout from the bowling of Oswald as the visitors moved past fifty without loss. However in quick succession Tait, Das and Patterson all claimed wickets to leave the game evenly poised at 70-4. Leask was growing in confidence and was joined by Snow and the pair took the visitors, to victory without further loss with 6 wickets to spare. The opener finished on 104 not out, in a game dominated by two well crafted tons, when all around them struggled with the bat.
Great to get a game after 2 Saturdays with no action, but not the right result, and with the prospect of the long trip to Huntly to face test match star Azahr Ali next week, the team will need to dig deep, as they look to get a stop start season back on track.
Sunday 5th June - Rossie Priory XI - home (Division 2)
Rossie Priory XI 151 all out lost to PSCC 152-4 by 6 wickets
The visitors took first use of the greenish wicket in this Division 2 encounter and openers Lunch (23) and Saddler (38) got them off to a fine start. However neither were able to capitailse on the good starts and the same could be said for Khan(14) and Caddick (22). Cooley(48) was the main contibutor in the inning before being removed by Paddy Murray who was the pick of the bowlers with 3-18. Hussein with 3-30 offered good support as the lower order crumbled to 151 all out. Peddie, Laing, Kilaru and Edmonds claimed a victim each as the bowling attack fought back well.
Piper and Murray opened the reply with the former looking continue his fine run of half centuries. Losing his partner for 3, was not the ideal start but he found a steady partner in Paul Collins who stuck in well for his 29. Piper was showing glimpses of his recent form as he moved towards another fifty. Collins became the first of Moorjani's 2 scalps, the second being Hussein who followed for 9. Piper was continuing to accumulate runs as was to end of 73 not out, Laing was run out near the end but the total was reached in the 27th over and a win by 6 wickets.
Saturday 4th May - Arbroath United - away (Premier)
AUCC 225-6 beat PSCC 165 all out by 60 runs.
The first team made the trip up to Arbroath to face a side mixed with youth and experience that has been going well this season. The home side batted first and Pedgrift and Swan steered them through a tricky opening spell with Hill and Murray bowling well. Skipper Patterson brought himself on at first change and it paid dividends as he removed both openers and no. 3 J Plomer in quick succesion, and was to finish with figures of 3-30 from his nine overs.
R Plomer was caught and bowled off the spin of Haddow, but Edwards and the experienced Thomson then put together what was to prove a match winning stand. Edwards finally fell for 44 and Thomson made a fine 26 as the innings ended on 225-6. A challenging total but by no means out of reach of the visitiors. However the innings was to follow a familiar pattern. A good start of 46-0 was soon 55-3 and then 86-5. Once again none of the top order wetre able to establish themselves fully, and take the innings by the scruf of the neck. Hill and Das (42) took it to 141, before the innings closed on 165 all out in 42 overs.
As the half way point of the season approaches no Strathy batsmen has passed 50 in the Premier Division, and that tells the story so far. More work in the nets for the batsmen this week before the home game to last years' champions Mannofield this Saturday.
Sunday 29th May - West Lothian - away (Scottish Cup)
West Lothian 312-4 beat PSCC 211-9 by 101 runs.
In a match delayed from earlier in the season by wet weather, the team arrived at Boghall to find a damp pitch and skipper Patterson wasted no time in inviting the opposition to bat and a seemingly sticky wicket. The skipper had taken his eye off the local weather forceast too soon, and after only a few overs of the home teams innings, gale force winds had taken the dampness away from the surface, and the bowlers began to toil in the windy conditions.
West Lothian batted well throughout, to post an intimidating total of 312-4 in their 50 overs with T McCoscar (101) D Voss (64) & J Cookson (54) the main destroyers. The Strathy innings was always behind the rate and despite 42 from Hill, 25 from Bridgeman and 24 from Yellowlees, the target was alwasy going to prove too much as the reply ended on 211-9. Playing a team at this level was a good indication of how far the club has to go, to play crickeet at a national level, but often you learn more from defeat than victory, and for some of the younger members of the side, this is the level they need to aspire to.
Saturday 28th May - Strathmore - home (Premier Division )
PSCC
Strathearn made it two wins on the bounce last weekend with a hard earned victory over Strathmore by 44 runs at Doo’cot to move into mid table in the Clubsport Strathmore Union Premier Division. Unfortunately the winning run could not be transferred to the following day when West Lothian proved too strong in the first round of the Scottish Cup at Linlithgow.
On a breezy but sunny Doo’cot day, skipper Ivor Patterson lost his first toss of the season and the hosts were asked to bat first on what turned out to be a slow, two paced surface. As has been the case for this season so far, the opening partnership was short lived and both openers had returned safely to the pavilion with seven overs gone and 20 on the board. Paul Tramontanas and David Patton looked to have got the innings back on track as they moved the score onto 66 before Patton(23) mistimed a short ball and skied a catch back to the bowler. It was becoming clear that fluent run scoring would be difficult and Tramontanas struggled with his timing against some laboured bowling before finally losing patience and was stumped having scored 43. Overseas amateur Sanu Das also struggled but did manage to find the boundary with some classy drives before he too was stumped one short of a deserved half century at 160-5. Some late order hitting led by Hill (43no) helped the hosts to a final total of 205-6 which was probably 20 runs short of a desirable total.
The Strathmore openers found the greater pace of the Strathy openers advantageous to producing aggressive batting as they made a steady start to their reply. Despite losing skipper Hewitson in the ninth over, fellow opener Mike Gourlay was rattling along at a good rate and had moved swiftly to 36 when he was adjudged LBW to Das with the score 56-2. The experience of Nigel Hazel kept the scoreboard ticking over with a number of classy boundaries as the home bowlers began to toil somewhat on the placid Doo’cot pitch. With Hazel passing fifty, the Forfar side looked well placed at 130-4 but the introduction of Matt Piper swung the game in the home sides favour. A burst of 3-20 in four overs including the prized scalp of Hazel for 61, stopped Strathmore in their tracks as they stumbled to 153-7 and it inspired skipper Patterson(3-29) to return to the fray and clean up the last three wickets in quick time as Strathmore were shot out for 161 with six overs remaining.
Match ScorecardSunday 22nd May - Dalnacraig - home (Division 2)
Dalnacraig 200-9 beat PSCC 150-8 by 50 runs.
Another blustery, showery day at Doo'cot and Dalnacraig batted first in this Division encounter. Braid and Saeed got the visitiors off to a steady start with the youngster Saeed playing some expansive shots after a nervy opening.
The top order all batted well with the top five all reaching double figures, Saeed and Lindsay the main contributers with 38 and 48 respectively. The Strathy bowlers stuck to their task well in difficult conditions with Dellaquaglia bowling an accurate spell and Piper (3-40), Laing (2-35)and young Grant Anderson (2-30) the main wicket takers. The score board had just ticket over to 200 by the time the innings closed.
In reply Laing fell early for 2, and was soon followed by Dallas also for 2. Piper and Fennel looked to re-build the innings, with opener Piper in particular, looking to increase the run rate. Fennel fell to Ancell for 16 and after Buchan had departed, Dellaquaglia joined Piper for a promising stand which had the visitors worried. However the required rate was increasing and after the pair were both run out chasing quick runs to get the innings back on track, the reply never really threatened a victory, from that point onwards. The innings ended on 150-8 and a loss by 50 runs. The highlights of the day were undoubtedly another well crafted innings by Matt Piper who showed he has the patience to bat high up the order, and more senior cricket for some of the clubs' promising juniors.
Sunday 21st May - Huntly - home (Premier)
Huntly 75 all out lost to PSCC 76-2 by 8 wickets.
Perth Strathearn CC welcomed Huntly to picturesque Doo’cot Park on Saturday in a Strathmore Union Premier Division match.The weather was threatening to ruin proceedings, but home skipper Ivor Patterson won a crucial toss and asked the visitors to bat.
The Aberdeenshire side were immediately in trouble as opening bowlers Hill and Murray both struck removing three batsmen before the score reached double figures.With rain forecast for late afternoon, the home team knew their only chance of a positive result was to dismiss the so far unbeaten visitors cheaply, and then chase the runs in double quick time. This is exactly how the game unravelled as Huntly were ravaged by the bowling of Hill, Murray, Das, Patterson and Haddow and found themselves on 52-9. However McKay frustrated the home team with a defiant innings of 18 before the final wicket was taken with the score on 75.
The run chase needed to be a quick one with the storm clouds gathering and the innings got off to a bad start with McKinnie departing for a duck. This brought the experience of Tramontanas to the crease and he and Yellowlees set about chasing the victory target. Tramontanas in particular was keen for an early finish and played an aggressive innings of 40 not out, supported by Yellowlees (14) and Patton (15*). The target was reached in the 14th over as the home team registered their first win of the season.
Match ScorecardSunday 15th May - Strathmore XI - home (Division 2)
PSCC 141 all out beat Strathmore XI 130 all out by 11 runs.
Skipper for the day Laing, lost the toss and he and Piper padded up, to open the innings. The pair batted cautiously but well against some tight opening bowling, particularly from Wilkie. Laing was bowled for 16 but Piper was to occupy the crease until the 40th over for a fine 68. McDonald went for 8 but Abhi came in played a bright innings of 23. Wickets then fell at regular intervals with the team being bowled out in the 40th over for 141, when 160/170 should have been set.
A total of 141 soon looked plenty when opening bowlers Maxwell and Abhi, ran through the top order to leave the away side on 8-4. However Mclaren and Wilkie then put a decent stand of 65 together and when Wilkie fell with the score at 73-4 the game was really well balanced. The veteran Cran joined McLaren and together took the score to 90 until Cran played all round a straight one leaving the umpire little option but to raise the finger, for one of the most straight forward LBW decisions. As the score began to creep up wickets also fell but Mclaren was doing a fine job of keeping his team in the game. Abhi came back to take two further wickets and finished with fine figures of 6-18. The score had reached 130-9 and the game was anyone's. Skipper Laing backed himself with his left arm spin and No.11 Lumsden popped one up to Piper at silly mid-off, and the game was one.
Match Scorecard
Saturday 14th May - Soneywood Dyce - away (Premier Division)
PSCC 133-9 lost to Stoneywood Dyce 135-4 by 6 wickets
The team to the long trek up to north west Aberdeen to play a team we have traditionally had some great matches with. Openers Yellowlees and Mckinnie got proceedings off to a steady start until the latter fell for 7 with the score on 36. What happened next was to prove the critical point of the whole match. After playing the first few deliveries with little alarm, Tramontanas was then caught off the bowling of Rossie. Das arrived at the crease but was immediately bowled by Rosie playing down the wrong line. Piper came in to the intense situation of facing a hat trick ball, and watched in horror, as a ball missing leg stump by some distance was diverted back on the stumps by his pads. The score had gone from 36-0 to 37-4 in 11 balls.
Mike Yellowlees and Graham Haddow set about the rebuilding job but the opener fell for 24 with the score on 62. Hill joined Haddow and chipped in with 18 offering support to top scorer Haddow who later fell for 36. Paddy Murray added a useful 17 batting at 10 but the score of 133-9 looked light by 30 or 40 runs.
Hill and Murray opened the bowling and Murray made the break through with only 1 on the board. Cohen and Wattie batted sensibly to take the score to 68 before the spin of Haddow accounted for Wattie for 36. By now though the home team were on top with plenty of time to get the runs and made a point of seeing off the spin of Das without any risk taking and Das ended with figures of 9-2-22-0. Hill returned to take two further wickets but the home team eased home by 6 wickets in the 39th over.
Match Scorecard to follow
Saturday 7th May - Meigle - home (Premier Division)
Meigle 125 all out , PSCC 68-4 - match abandoned due to rain.
Meigle arrived in Perth having defeated champions Mannofield in week one. Overnight rain had left the outfield soggy, but the covers had done a decent job protecting the playing surface. Meigle batted first and were soon in trouble as Ross Tait struck early on. The wicket had obviously been affected by the recent rains, and with the ball popping off a length scoring was difficult. Hill and Das on his debut picked up a couple of wickets each leaving the visitors on 76-7 at one stage. However ex-Strathy player Trivedi, showed his experience and the visitors managed to post a score of 125.
With rain threatening, the hosts set about the run chase after tea, but were soon on the backfoot with Yellowlees, Tramontanas and Das all out cheaply. McKinnie was hanging in and a gradual recovery followed, but unfortunately so did the rain. With score past the 60 mark with four batsmen gone, the game was really well balanced, but the decision was taken that the match would not be finished and a halt was called.
Sunday 1st May - Clackmannanshire - Home - (Division 2)
PSCC XI 110 all out lost to Clacks 112-6 by 4 wickets.
The home team batted first in a low scoring encounter, with Doo'Cot Park looking its best on a cracking Sunday afternoon. Only Ollie Middlemiss really settled at the crease and was the backbone of the innings with 33. Scott McKenzie threatened a late cameo as he crashed a huge six, surely the result of a high protein winter diet. With several juniors playing the tail was always going tpo be a long one, but Lewis Parker did particulalry well, supporting Ollie for a good period at the crease.
Chasing 111 to win the Clacks team achieved their target with 4 wickets to spare. Matt Piper with 2-28 and Callum Laing also with a brace, did their best to produce a second low scoring win in two weeks, but despite Duncan Marsh and young Grant Anderson also claiming a scalp each, the visitors eased home.
Saturday 30th April - Dundee HSFP - away (Premier Division)
PSCC 182-8 lost to Dundee HSFP 183-8 by 2 wickets.
After the first week's washout, the first XI travelled to Dundee to take on a HSFP team who are always looking to challenge at the top of the Premier Division. Batting first PSCC were soon in trouble at 4-2 after 4 overs, with openers McKinnie and Yellowlees back in the pavillion. Despite this set back there was a steady recovery with Paul Tramontanas with 47 the main contributor, as a score of 182-8 was posted.The home team were also in early trouble as their reply got underway, and were struggling at 11-2. Bailwal (78*) was the architect of the recovery with the support of Rennie and Landwehr, and at 82-3 the host were in control. However lot long aftre this with the score at 95-6 the balance had shifted and the visitors seamed set for victory. However Bailwal was still at the crease and he paced his innings well, and the game was well balanced at 151-8 with 4 overs remaining. Enter the Dundee no. 10 Rasheed who proceeded to hit a rapid 25 not out to see the host home by 2 wickets in a thrilling match.
A tough defeat for the team to take in their opening encounter, but plenty of positives to take into next week's match with Meigle, when Overseas Amateur Sanu Das, should be available to make his Doo'cot Park debut.
Sunday 24th April - Glendelvine - away (Division 2)
PSCC 69 all out beat Glendelvine 46 all out by 23 runs.
After the disappointment of the first team having their league opener rained off the previous day, the Seconds travelled to near neighbours Glendelvine to get their Division 2 campaign underway. The team had a real mix of youth and experience, with Liam Roberts, Lewis Parker and Grant Anderson all getting a taste of senior cricket.
Batting first it was soon beginning to look like a nightmarish start to the season as wickets fell regulalry as the away side posted a paltry 69 all out, with only the experienced Gordon McKinnie with 25 providing any resistance.
There was no doubt that the previous day's rain had spiced up the pitch, but some of the team defintely contributed to their own downfall.
The Glendelvine reply got off to a flyer and they were soon 30-1, with Mike Yellowlees scoring rapidly. However when the opener fell for 27 the game began to change in a way no-one watching on could have imagined. Tony Dellaquaglia was bowling full and straight from the pavillion end and wickets began to tumble. The score went from 30-1 to 36-7 with home hopes left resting on the experienced Sandy Baird. However depsite hitting a couple of late boundaries, Baird was left stranded as the tail was cleaned up and the innings ended on 46 all out.
Dellaquaglia was undoubtedly the pick of the bowling with figures of 9-6-9-6.
Saturday 16th April - Falkland - home (Friendly)
Falkland 217-5 beat PSCC 179-8 by 38 runs.
Falkland batted first setting a total of 217-5. A steady start to the iniings from opening bowlers J Hill and R Tait with Tait maiking the breakthrough at 35-1 with Mike Yellowlees taking a fine catch at extra cover. Fraser Mearns replaced Tait and again Yellowlees took a sharp catch. Mearns bowled a steady spell ending with figures of 8/1/27/1. New comer Matt Piper also bowled an encouraging spell with 0/26 off 6 overs. Yellowlees then came on again bowled well with 1/31 off 7 overs. Tait came back at the end of the innings and took two further wickets in the final two overs and finished with 3/45. Generally the Fifers punished any slack deliveries with two of their top order retiring after passing the 50 mark.
McKinnie and Yellowlees opened the reply steadily, but Yellowlees was dropped in the first over by the Falkland keeper. Both settled after this without really being able to accelerate against steady bowling. With the score on 42 McKinnie was caught behind for 17 brining Tramontanas to the crease. The xperinced no.3 batted very well and upped the tempo, although Yellowlees departed for 32 with the scoreboard on 87 just as he was starting to accelerate. Tramontanas reached 54 and was retired although he was dropped a couple of times in quick succession just prior to passing 50. The highlight of his innings being two glorious, effortless sixes over long on & extra cover. After he left rate dropped, Mearns struggled to make any headway before running himself out for 17, and Matt piper hit a brisk 27, with two rasping cover drives for 4. David Patton made a cameo 16 at the end as the PSCC reply was falling short, finishing on 179/8 at stumps.
Overall it was a worthwhile outing for may of the first team players as attention turns to the opening game at home to Kinloch on 23rd April.
