Hoffmann rolls back years to spark trophy celebrations

PAUL Hoffmann may be ready to put retirement plans on hold after playing a key role as Uddingston retained the Scottish Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket success over Dunfermline Knights at Arbroath on Saturday.

Hoffmann, the former Saltires bowler, has produced many fine performances over the years but the 41-year-old’s contribution to Uddingston’s latest success was perhaps his most remarkable yet – given that an injured shoulder looked like ruling him out of the showpiece occasion until a few minutes before the start.

Instead Hoffmann turned to skipper Ricky Bawa’s brother Sandeep – a specialist sports doctor – and was declared fit with just five minutes to spare.

And, in true fairy-tale fashion, the veteran bowler went on to claim three key wickets as Uddingston lifted the trophy for the third time in nine years.

Hoffmann revealed: “I’ve had a problem with my shoulder since April.

“I’ve managed to keep going with a couple of cortisone injections but the injury surfaced again on Friday, and by Saturday morning I couldn’t even lift my arm.

“I didn’t think there was any chance I could bowl but Sandeep performed a miracle to get me ready. I don’t know how much anaesthetic he pumped into me but it started working just in time.”

The Australian-born player added: “I had been thinking of retiring after today’s match but now I think I’ll carry on. If my shoulder is okay at the start of next season I’m sure I will want to keep going.”

This season has, of course, been badly disrupted by the weather, but the sun shone on the domestic game’s showpiece occasion, lighting up the trim and well-appointed Lochlands ground where members turned out in force to play their part in a memorable day.

There were early concerns that the match itself might turn into a damp squib when the Knights, having won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat, slumped to 76-7.

However, their tail wagged commendably to make Uddingston work for their success.

Skipper Gowtham Rai’s decision to bat first soon backfired as Ricky Bawa and Hoffmann, arguably the best new-ball pairing in the country, took advantage of helpful conditions.

Bawa made the breakthrough by bowling Rai while Hoffmann picked up three wickets for just 19 runs in an unbroken ten-over spell.

With Ras Priyadarshana chipping in with two wickets in two balls, the Knights were in danger of complete capitulation.

However, Cammy Farrell and Siva Jayahanthan added 52 for the eighth wicket, Farrell going on to top-score with 39.

Their contribution hoisted the tally to 151 before Uddy themselves were in early trouble on 53-3.

However, man-of-the-match Alecz Day launched the recovery with a hard-hitting 59 that included seven fours and a six while Saltires star Calum MacLeod contributed 35 to a 99-run stand that took Uddingston to victory with 18 overs to spare.

Victorious skipper Bawa said: “It is a fantastic achievement for our club to win the Scottish Cup again. That is three times in nine years, and holding onto it after last season’s win is a great effort.

“It was a great team effort but I have to single out Hoffy who wasn’t declared fit until a few minutes before the start. To bowl as well as he did was fantastic.”

A seven-wicket success reflected the Lanarkshire club’s superiority on the day and Knights player-coach Kevin McLaren, while disappointed, paid tribute to the victors and the host club.

He said: “Fair play to Uddingston – they were by far the better team on the day and deserved their win.

“Arbroath also deserve a lot of credit because this is always a great place to play and, despite all the rain, the ground was in remarkably good condition.

“In hindsight we should probably have bowled first but that’s history now.”