Western Premier cricket: Drumpellier singing in the summer rain

A FEW weeks ago, it was a case of “disconsolate Drumpellier” as this summer’s rains took a heavy toll on the Coatbridge cricketers.

Drumps were firmly in the dumps, having lost the only two games they had completed of a scheduled seven during the first half of the league season.

Three weeks and three victories later, Graeme McLaren’s side sit on the fringes of the title race.

Their latest success saw them outgun one-time leaders West of Scotland in a game which cheated the elements long enough for Hamilton Crescent to produce the only result on Saturday’s Western Premier card.

Following the loss of Gordon Shaw for 13, Asad Mohammed – with his second half-century in a row – and skipper McLaren provided the substance of their side’s innings with a stand of 72.

McLaren fell for 32, featuring four boundaries, while Asad showed his class by top-scoring with a well-crafted 80.

A couple of lusty late blows over the rope from Nazer Hussain, the pro, and Ally Rawlinson took the visitors to 187-6.

Remarkably, the rain stayed away long enough for Drumpellier to clinch a dramatic victory.

With an eye on the skies, West managed to stay in touch with the D/L target despite the loss of three early wickets.

However, when Hussain
returned bowled Dougie Lockhart for 23, Drumps had the edge.

Within a few balls of Lockhart’s departure, the heavens opened and the Coatbridge side were declared winners by four runs.

Elsewhere, Uddingston’s clash with Greenock was abandoned after an innings at Glenpark, while Dumfries’ encounter with Stirling and the match between Ayr and Clydesdale also washed out.