Renfrew take a huge step to staying at top

Sai Majeed’s side, seeking no more than survival in their first season in the top flight, took a huge step towards securing that goal with what was their first win against West in a major competition. They did it in some style too, racking up 233-7 before restricting their more fancied rivals to 222-9.

These bald statistics mask a truly remarkable performance from Renfew’s Kamran Saeed, who only came in to bat when one of his team-mates was forced to retire.

With his side struggling to make a winning total, Kamran took matters into his own hands by smacking 45no from only 13 deliveries. Twenty-eight of his runs came from the penultimate over which included four sixes.

The visitors looked on course when Dylan Pinkstone and Grieg Watson carried them to 100-1. However, Azhar Sharif and Imtiaz Uddin claimed three wickets apiece as West finished 11 runs short. “It’s a great win for us,” said skipper Majeed. “I didn’t tell the lads we’d never beaten West in case it got to them. I don’t think we’re quite safe yet but this result will give us great confidence at the start of the  second half of the season.”

Renfrew’s heroics may have upstaged Uddingston and Drumpellier but the Lanarkshire pair will take centre stage again at the weekend when they meet in a potential Western Premier title decider at Bothwell Castle.

Both kept their unbeaten records on Saturday, the former overcoming struggling Stirling while Drumpellier were too strong for second-bottom Ayr.

It was not all plain sailing for the Coatbridge side who had to overcome the loss of three quick wickets before a century stand between Asad Mohammed and skipper Graeme McLaren and the pair reached half-centuries. Drumpellier’s 224-5 proved more than enough especially when the wily Imran Adrees worked on a youthful Ayr batting line-up to claim 4-32 while Will Leslie weighed in with 3-11 as the visitors went for 111.

Aamir Gul’s superb season for Uddingston continued as he first claimed four wickets to help restrict Stirling to 158-8.The league leaders will take a huge stride towards winning the title if they get the better of Drumpellier on Saturday.

And Safyaan Sharif confirmed his return to fitness and form with four wickets as Clydesdale got a much-needed win over former champions Dumfries.