Spinners turn on the style as East Kilbride seal promotion

EAST Kilbride's spinners helped them defeat Strathearn on Saturday and secure their side a place in the SNCL for 2011.

Shahid Mahmood took 3-8, Shiraz Khalid took 3-27 and Mahmood Alum bowled a miserly ten over spell for just ten runs as the men from the west restricted Strathearn to just 147 all out batting first in the feeder league play-off match. The top scorer for Strathearn at Penicuik's Kirkhill ground was skipper Paul Tromontanas who hit 54.

In reply East Kilbride were wobbling a bit at 58-3, but a superb partnership between Stewart Kampman and Umair Saeed saw their team home.

Kampman finished on 41 not out and Saeed 49 not out as they won by seven wickets.

The result means East Kilbride will play in the SNCL for the first time in their history, while Strathearn will play Kelburne in Stirling this coming weekend to decide who gets the final place in the restructured national league.

Edinburgh Accies have already been confirmed as being in the SNCL next season after they were the highest placed East League side that was eligible for promotion.

After Saturday's win East Kilbride president Brian Kampman said: "The spinners really turned the game for us on Saturday because their overs slowed up the run rate of Strathearn, put them under pressure and ultimately saw them out for 147. The two batsmen then stuck to their task and it is a big boost for the club to get into the SNCL.

"We have been working hard over recent years to improve the facilities at our ground and we have done this thanks to various grants, while the youth section is growing and winter nets for the juniors start again next month."

Kampman stated that the club's planning for 2011, including maybe bringing in a pro, will start soon.