GREENOCK’S cricketers got a new season under way on Sunday – 24 hours after bad weather put paid to their planned first friendly of the pre-season campaign.
Heavy rain on Friday and overnight caused the cancellation of what should have been the opening fixture for the club’s first XI against West of Scotland.
But on Sunday, it was blue skies and sunshine and the intra-club match between Glenpark and Hillend, the club’s second and third XIs, produced a good early season opportunity for players to get some match practice.
Batting first, Glenpark amassed a total of 169, with team captain Mo Ahmad top scoring with 35 runs and several others scoring in the teens.
READ MORE: Greenock Cricket Club eager to welcome the next generation to Glenpark
Yakoob Hayat, with four wickets for 10 runs, and Rakesh Kumar, with three for 16, were the Hillend side’s top bowlers.
In reply, the Hillend batters struggled to find runs, and eventually were bowled out for just 80.
Sahil Safi, with three wickets for just four runs, was the outstanding bowler; his three wickets were taken in consecutive balls, giving him the first hat-trick of the season.
Greenock’s players observed a minute’s silence in memory of Graham Prodger before the start of Sunday’s intra-club friendly match. (Image: Peter Hempsey) This weekend, Greenock have two more warm up matches at Glenpark: on Saturday, the visitors are Helensburgh, and on Sunday Hillhead provide the opposition.
* Before the start of Sunday’s season opener, players observed a minute’s silence in memory of former player, club president and honorary vice-president Graham Prodger, who passed away earlier in the week aged 88.
Greenock Cricket Club is sponsored by Cleaning Supplies 4U.
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