On Coronation Day both innings were dominated by slow bowlers in Galloway Cricket Club’s rain-affected defeat against Hillhead at Hughenden.
Hillhead were invited to bat first by visiting skipper Phil McMenemy, and either side of a lengthy rain delay the openers steadily accumulated 95 from 25 overs, before collapsing in the last ten of their revised allocation.
Offspinner Andrew Marsay was the catalyst, dismissing the top five in his last three overs in taking his first wickets for the club. He had left-hander Lindley-Dawe stumped by McMenemy for 33, Sharma LBW for 53 and Jones caught behind, then bowled Horn with a ball that turned sharply and Adarkar with a flighted delivery.
In his second spell Pat Druce continued the carnage from the western end, having Das caught by Simon Mein at cover, Bartlett held by Alex McMenemy and Dunbar bowled.
Alex completed the overs from the pavilion end and had two leg side catches put down (as did Marsay) but completed the run out of Farndale for 16 off the last ball of the innings when gathering a strong throw from Akhil Somarajan.
The quirks of the DLS scoring method meant the Galloway target became 177, which proved to be a challenge too far after the early loss of both openers. Carr was bowled by Horn for one, and having played some good shots Dominic holed out off Lynch for six.
Pat and Akhil put together a partnership of 56 from 15 overs, though it was hard going against accurate bowling, coupled with gloomy light and a slow outfield. Akhil struck a glorious six over mid wicket and both managed a single four, as several drives stopped short of the rope.
Hillhead spinner Bartlett made the breakthrough, trapping Akhil LBW and having Pat stumped, and in tandem with Farndale shared six wickets whilst conceding just 26 runs from their combined 13 overs.
Alex McMenemy was bowled for one, Andrew Marsay was run out, Callum Sinclair stumped and Andy Naylor LBW for the same score, whilst Simon Mein was caught for no score.
Phil McMenemy managed to reach 16 before Paul Lindsay was last out, bowled by Horn as the clock reach 8pm.
Although defeated Galloway can be encouraged by the accuracy of all their bowlers, Marsay’s five-wicket haul, good ground fielding and batting that would have been more successful in better conditions. As with most cricket teams, there is still room for improvement with their catching!
Hillhead 151-9 (35 overs) A Marsay 5-36, P Druce 3-20, R Sharma 53
Galloway 92 (29.5 overs) A Somarajan 28, P Druce 17, P McMenemy 16*, J Bartlett 4-16
Galloway 1st XI are hosting Motherwell on Saturday 13th.
