Western Premier: Uddingston top after Drumpellier tie

DRUMPELLIER may have relinquished their lead at the top of the table but not their proud unbeaten record following a thrilling tie with West of Scotland at Langloan.

A match which ebbed and flowed throughout finally ended all square when the Lanarkshire side’s last pair just failed to score the ten runs needed to pull off an unlikely win.

Instead, Gurjit Sandhu emerged as West’s last-ditch hero when he had Ally Rawlinson caught behind by Ian Young with just one run needed for victory.

Home skipper Graeme McLaren, while disappointed not to win, said: “It was a great game. I thought we were going to get there but we remain unbeaten.”

In his absence, Will Leslie claiming four wickets, including that of former Scotland batsman Dougie Lockhart, to help restrict West to 139-8.

Drumps may have been favourites at this stage but four wickets apiece for Dave McNulty and John Blain quickly had the match in the balance. It took a battling 45 from McLaren, backed by Jarrod Armitage’s 29, to put the hosts back on course.

Drumpellier’s tie paved the way for Lanarkshire neighbours Uddingston to claim pole position, which they did thanks to victory at Renfrew.

A century from Sri Lankan professional Ras Priyadarshana proved the difference between the sides at King George V Playing Fields. Priyadarshana finished unbeaten on 106 while Amir Gul contributed 69 as Uddingston cruised past Renfrew’s total of 226-5 with seven overs and seven wickets in hand.

Stirling captain Graeme Taylor asked his batsmen to use their full allocation of 50 overs prior to their New Williamfield clash with Clydesdale. They did, but it still wasn’t enough to get the better of the Glasgow club.

Ross Gelderbloem and Andy Carswell scored 76 and 73 respectively to home side to 225-5. Then Stirling reduced the visitors to 80-3, but an unbroken 146-run partnership between Pakistani professional Shoaib Khan (80no) and Kasim Farid (72no) led Clydesdale to victory.

Like Stirling, Ayr are still searching for their first win after champions Dumfries proved too strong at Nunholm.

Teenage pace bowler Niall Alexander was the pick of the home bowlers with 4-36 as Ayr could only muster 175. Chris Bellwood then continued his rich vein of form with 72no as Dumfries cruised home.