McKenzie storms to six wickets

THE Scottish Cup may have a new look with coloured kit and a pink ball but the game’s showpiece knockout tournament proved as susceptible as ever to the old problem of poor weather.

Almost all the 16 scheduled group matches were affected, while seven didn’t even start.

Holders Uddingston managed to dodge the showers for long enough to make a winning start against Fauldhouse Victoria. Calum MacLeod, captaining the Lanarkshire side for the first time in a competitive fixture, put the former East League side into bat and the tactic paid almost immediate dividends with Ricky Bawa picking up two quick wickets.

Teenager Gavin Main also claimed a brace but the bowling honours went to the often unheralded seamer Scott McKenzie, who took six wickets.

Uddingston’s reply was spearheaded by Amir Gul who hit 25 but the run-chase was halted by an untimely shower with the home side on 65-2. They were, somewhat farcically, set a revised Duckworth/Lewis target of 68, which they reached easily.

Elsewhere, West of Scotland player-coach John Blain claimed three Corstorphine wickets while conceding only four runs in a one-sided affair.

The biggest surprise came at Cambusdoon where Ayr came a cropper against Freuchie.

Dumfries amassed the day’s biggest total of 318-5 against Weirs, who could only manage 100-5 in reply.