Shire faced with big losing streak

Jun 6 2008

IT was a miserable weekend for Perthshire as their winning run ended with a convincing defeat by Strathmore on Saturday, followed by a narrow loss for the 2ndXI against Strathearn 2s on a wet Sunday.

Graham Ferguson hasn’t won the toss all season and that continued on Saturday, when Shire were invited to bat.

The wicket was soft after heavy rain late in the week but Shire knew their hosts were short of first-choice bowlers.

Openers Ferguson and Barnsley played confidently and, despite a couple of scares, were just short of a century partnership when Barnsley was caught for 38.

The slow pitch and Strathmore's slow bowlers made life difficult and the Shire batsmen were unable to build on this solid start despite a score of 200 being well within their reach.

Ferguson was second man out for 81 with the score on 136 for two but a flurry of wickets meant that Shire closed their innings on 172 for seven.

That total was probably 30 short of what it should have been – and that sadly proved the case.

Crouch and MacIntosh bowled solid opening spells in very humid conditions and the turning point came when Strathmore opener and dangerman Nigel Hazel appeared to be caught in the slips.

The umpires were unsighted as the fielders fumbled the ball before catching it just off the ground, whilst Hazel was uncertain if the ball had struck bat or pad.

He was given the benefit of the doubt and went on to punish some loose Shire bowling.

The Shire fielders kept plugging away but were never troubling Hazel and Gourlay and they passed the total for the loss of only three wickets and with four overs to spare.

Sunday's game was spoiled by the heavy afternoon rain which, as tends to happen, saw one team think it was too wet whilst another was happy to play.

Perth batted first and were bowled out for 91 on a wet and green wicket.

The rain stopped at tea time and although the Shire bowlers plugged away and had their guests in trouble, Strathearn passed the total for the loss of seven wickets.

This weekend sees Shire travel to Aberdeen to play Mannofield on Saturday and then the 2nd XI host Arbroath on Sunday in Div 2. Teams:

1st XI v Mannofield at Aberdeen on Sat 7th June - From G Ferguson (Capt), D Armstrong, T Brown, C Bayne, J MacIntosh, S Rajyaguru, P Chavan, S Barnsley, G Haddow, M McDonald, F McGaffney, P Patel. R McPhee (Scorer). Players meet at Gannochy Pavillion 10.15am prompt.

2nd XI v Arbroath at North Inch Sunday, June 8 – From G Ferguson (Capt), D Armstrong, R Armstrong, P Wigley, R Thomson, K Khalil, C Ruthven, C Meikle, D Meikle, S Rajyaguru, P Chavan, P Patel. R McPhee (Scorer). Players meet at Gannochy Pavillion 12 Noon prompt.

Tuesday sees Perthshire take on Strathearn at Doocot Park in the Quarter-Final of the Clark Thomson 3 Counties Cup.

Strathearn 140-6 (D. Patton 69). Coupar Angus 126-9 (W. Sutherland 72 not out, A. Hussain 3-21).

Perthshire Cup, first round, Larghan Park, Wednesday.