Hoffman the hero as Uddingston get hands on trophy for first time

The Lanarkshire side had gone into battle at Hamilton Crescent as overwhelming favourites and they more than lived up to their billing, thanks in no small way to one of cricket's great characters, Paul Hoffmann.

The former Saltires cult hero launched the rout with a typically tight and threatening display of seam bowling to send County hurtling to 131 all out. Hoffmann then obliterated any slim prospect of a fightback by making a mockery of the Stirling attack, inspiring Uddy to their seven-wicket stroll in the sun.

He set the tone of the chase by clouting Richie Carswell for 16 in the opening over. It wasn't a case of Carswell bowling badly, it was simply Hoffmann doing what Hoffmann has done for years.

Hoffmann was eventually sent packing for a quickfire 43, but the damage was done. And the stage was left clear for ex-UAE ace Sami Zia to complete the job in the 19th over with an unbeaten half-century.

Earlier, the writing had been on the wall for First Division County from the moment skipper Phil Rees won the toss and puzzlingly opted to take first knock against their Premier Division opponents. Against a streetwise attack like Hoffmann and Bawa, deciding to bat was a bold gamble. And very soon it became blindingly obvious that the punt by Rees had been ill-judged. County surrendered their first two wickets with the tally on only three.

First, Gavin Anderson nicked Hoffmann to keeper Bryan Clarke. Then Ian McGhee tried to scamper a single, only to be run out by a fine piece of work by Scott McKenzie. James Miller and Josh Edwards steadied the ship - temporarily at any rate. But when Edwards perished for 14, any realistic hope of a lofty tally were effectively snuffed out.

Then Ras Priyadarshana entered the attack. His medium pacers continued to keep a stranglehold on the batsmen and he struck the first of four blows by clean-bowling Mark Tweedie for three. Priyadarshana then got rid of County pro Kreeson Naicker. And when Rees and Craig Matthews followed in quick succession to Amir Gul and Zia, a three figure target seemed unlikely.

However, the stubborn Miller and Richie Carswell dug their heels in and refused to cave in. They figured in an enterprising stand of 40 before the former was bowled by Gul for 51 gutsy runs. Though the Hoffmann-Bawa partnership had smothered Stirling from the outset, it was Priyadarshana who emerged with the highest haul of scalps, four for 21.

Hoffmann admitted the victory was one of the high points of his career in Scotland.

He said: "Achieving success with your club is something very special. A lot of people work so hard to keep a side like this going. I enjoyed my innings, but everyone contributed on the day."