An improved performance in the field went unrewarded as Galloway were no match for league leaders Partick at Hamilton Crescent on Saturday. After doing well to bowl out the home side they were blown away by opening bowler Graeme Etheridge, who dismissed all but one of the visitors in a fine, accurate spell of fast bowling.
Partick, the name used by the West of Scotland second eleven, included several players with experience in the top WDCU division. Having lost only four wickets all season they opted to bat first on a grey Glasgow day. By the 13th over they had already lost more than that, wobbling to 67-5 with the help of 19 extras.
Akhil made the breakthrough with a short ball that Krishnan tried to pull, only to top edge a catch back to the bowler. Skipper Ross Lamb, who had already seen Wilson caught behind, removed Malik the same way and yorked the other opener Mills to leave Partick 39-4.
On debut Rasel Mia impressed with his off spin, taking a wicket in the first and last of his ten overs. He bowled Farr with a ball that turned sharply and had Kitchen caught by Akhil at short cover.
Apart from the habitual generous Galloway gift of extras (49 wides) the Partick total owed much to two fifty partnerships. One was ended by Alex McMenemy when he trapped Williams LBW for 39 and the other when Stevie Carr had Hulatt caught at mid on by Anup Domanic, who himself had been unlucky with two LBW shouts.
Lamb returned to earn a deserved fourth wicket, removing Smith LBW for nought and leaving Etheridge 26 not out. Their day was to continue in a similar vein.
The tone for the Galloway innings was set when Anup top edged to be caught behind in the first over. Stevie scored the first runs, Akhil the first boundary and with the help of four byes, all off Smith, the pair added twelve. It turned out to be the only partnership in double figures.
Akhil was caught failing to clear mid off and Stevie bowled, as the pony-tailed Etheridge took two in an over, a feat he was to repeat twice. Ross hit a glorious boundary before losing his off stump.
Sifat Rabby, another first eleven debutant, had the kudos of lasting the longest, scoring a boundary off Etheridge and not being dismissed by him, giving Smith his only victim when playing across the line to be bowled for six.
Phil and Rasel were both bowled by Etheridge, who was clearly not going to be removed from the attack with Galloway on 25-7. This was guaranteed after Ajith hit two and four to mid wicket, and a single to him and Andy Naylor brought Galloway their best over.
Andy was caught behind chasing a ball he should have left, Alex went the same way tempted by a short ball and top scorer Ajith was last out caught at slip. Galloway will hope Helensburgh provide more evenly matched opposition on Saturday.
Partick 201 (40.5 overs) R Lamb 4-39, S Carr 2-28, R Mia 2-44, A McMenemy 1-25, A Somarajan 1-28, Extras 54
Galloway 34 (17 overs) G Etheridge 9-12, G Smith 1-18
