Cricket: Lowly Greenock gain a lifeline with victory over Drumpellier

By WILLIAM DICK and DAVID KELSO
Published on 13/08/2012 01:36

Greenock’s 150th anniversary celebrations will not be remembered for any vintage performances on the field.

Indeed, a season marred by atrocious weather and some pretty mediocre cricket has often looked destined to end in relegation from the Western Premier Division. But reports of Greenock’s demise may have been exaggerated, after the bottom-of-the-table side beat upwardly mobile Drumpellier to restore belief that they can still dodge the drop to division one.

Drumpellier posted a respectable 195-7, Stevie Allison (42no) and Graeme McLaren (41) the main contributors, before opener Sailesh Prabhu carried his bat with a superb unbeaten 79 to secure victory with seven wickets and nine balls to spare.

At the other end of the table the lead changed once again as Clydesdale’s defeat to Uddingston allowed Dumfries to reclaim top spot.

Grange would appear to have timed their surge to perfection with only three rounds of fixtures left in the race for the Eastern Premier crown.

While they were snuffing out the challenge of Forfarshire at Broughty Ferry, chief title rivals Watsonians were being downed by south Edinburgh rivals Carlton. But despite taking over at the head of the table, albeit on run-rate, cautious skipper Neil McCallum refused to look too far ahead.

The former Scotland World Cup batsman said: “Carlton did us a massive favour by beating Sonians, but we have to remember that we will have to face them in a couple of weeks and they could inflict the same damage on us!”

McCallum led from the front at Forthill, striking a superb unbeaten 77 to pave the way for the emphatic eight-wicket success. Earlier, Gregor Maiden had snapped up three Tayside scalps as they were curbed to 187 for nine.

Preston Mommsen and Umair Mohammed emerged as the host heroes in Carlton’s 41-run triumph at Grange Loan.

Mommsen thumped 84 to guide them to 207 for nine before Mohammed’s four wicket haul sent shaky Sonians slipping to 166 all out. Ewan Chalmers was their leading light with 45.

The roller-coaster season of Heriot’s took another downward lurch when they crashed to Aberdeenshire at Mannofield.Neil MacRae made a watchful 80 not out to inspire the home brigade to 190 for nine in damp and testing conditions.The Goldenacre men were undone by Chris West, whose four wickets helped to dismiss them for 139.

Arbroath’s revival was halted as Stoneywood-Dyce bounced back to peak form at Lochlands.

In the Western First Division championship, the innings of the day was provided by Stenhousemuir’s Rushdi Jappie, whose unbeaten 118 inspired his side to victory over Prestwick.