Saints get their revenge

LAST Saturday Pepe’s St Michael’s Cricket Club played host to Milngavie at Kingholm Park hoping to avenge their recent away loss to the same side. They put on a good solid winning performance, with all the bowlers chipping in, fielding was sharper and the majority of chances offered taken resulting in an emphatic seven wicket victory. On batting first the away side were reduced to 65 for 6, with opening bowlers Nazeer Fazli (2) and Riley Coy (1) taking the first three wickets to fall and Ross Dalling(2) and Kieran Moore (1) the next three. The introduction of spinner Farhad Hosankhial (3) and reintroduction of Fazli (1) to the attack taking the final four wickets thwarted a dangerous counterattack by Milngavie their final score being 121 all out. The downside to a very good overall performance on the field was that 14 no balls and 32 wides were bowled, gifting runs to the opposition plus potential runs off the extra 46 balls bowled. Catches were taken by Fazli, Dalling, Moore, Hozankhial, Chris Lumb and Ronan Wilson. Thanks go to Connor Bowie for stepping in as wicketkeeper at the last minute never having done it before, with none of the regular incumbents being available and doing a fine job. In reply Saints lost Sahim Niazia and Wilson for 16 runs, but Moore batted very responsibly. His knock was a very good foil to Coy’s more expansive style of batting, and the partnership that developed was based around proper controlled shot making and avoided any risky play. It was a good example of how to pace a reply through occupation of the crease with the acceleration coming towards the end when they had wickets in hand and the bowlers were tiring. The partnership was worth 101 runs, with Moore (18) unfortunately being bowled at the end of the innings, his 112 ball innings being an example to his teammates that occupation of the crease pays dividends. Coy powerfully hit a straight six to bring the match to a fitting conclusion finishing a superb 67 n.o. in 74 balls. Performance of the day went to Riley Coy for his miserly bowling spell at the start of the game and his excellent innings of 67 n.o. Thanks are expressed to ball sponsor Jardine Funeral Directors. This Sunday Pepe’s St Michael’s are at home to Victoria, 12 pm start at Kingholm Park Green’s Kingholm Xl (St Michael’s 2s) travel to play East Kilbride 3s.