EAST KILBRIDE 118 all out after 33.4 overs (25 pts) HILLHEAD 98 all out after 33.4 overs (5 points)
In a game abbreviated to 35 overs a side due to wet approaches to the wicket, Hillhead ran their opponents close, but not close enough to suffer their third consecutive defeat in Division 1 of the WDCU leagues.
Choosing to bat first, East Kilbride raced away to stand at 70 for 2 after only 16 overs thanks to their opener, Mohammed Osman , flailing the Hillhead attack all round the ground. But the introduction of change bowlers, Jack Holland and Keshav Soni, applied the brakes and East Kilbride could add only another 48 for the loss of 8 wickets. Off spinner Holland was particularly impressive in his 7 over spell taking 3 for 16, including the prized wickets of Osman for 54 and Mohammed Ramzan for 2, both of whom were clean bowled.
In reply, the Hillhead top order stuttered to 49 for 5 after 18 overs with only Ben Ward able to hit convincingly for a fine 32. But thereafter captain, Shehroz Mehmood, occupied the crease for 10 overs for a fighting 22 to give his side hope. The 9th wicket partnership of Ayub Khan and Amith Sitaram then added a further 26 runs with some judicious hitting of the slow bowlers. But in the gathering gloom of a gray May evening, Hillhead subsided to 98 all out. Overall, the menacing pace of Mohamed Khan bowling down the Torrance House slope and the floated off spin of David Doyle was too much for some of the visitors’ callow batsmen.
However by running their hosts close, Hillhead secured 5 valuable bonus points to lift them to 8th place in the WDCU Division1 table. On Saturday 28th May, Hillhead make the short journey to Pollock Park on the south side of Glasgow to play Poloc CC at their Shawholm ground.
