Saints suffer first defeat

Jul 3 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

DMPS St Michaels travelled to Titwood for the top of the table clash last Saturday and were defeated easily by 75 runs.

On winning the toss, captain D Rankine put the opposition into bat.

The Saints opening attack of R Marscheider and Rankine made early inroads to the batting and Titwood were 37-3 after 10 overs.

The home batsmen then put together a good 4th wicket partnership but once R Hart removed McArthur for 23, then he and Farrukh quickly took another wicket each to leave their opponents 119-6 with 20 overs remaining.

The Saints players were then hopeful of bowling Titwood out relatively cheaply on a good wicket but this did not materialise as the lower order batsmen put on a further 100 runs.

Rankine and Marscheider came back to take a wicket each and a good run out by C Irvine left the home side at 218-9 at the end of their innings, a total not helped by the 20 wides conceded and some lacklustre fielding by St Michaels.

The run chase would also suffer a blow with Randall Hart needing stitches in a hand wound which would delay his arrival at the crease.

The Saints batsmen were left with a similar job which they achieved a week earlier and the opening batsmen of C Brockwell and R Marscheider got off to a decent start.

They added 29 before Brockwell was lbw for 14.

C Irvine then added a further two runs before being caught behind.

With the inform Pat Sullivan starting positively things were looking good for Saints.

The introduction of Z Ali soon changed all that by removing Sullivan for 27 with his second ball and in his next over he dismissed Marscheider for 20.

With Farrukh and A Kishore departing quickly this left Hart to bat with the tail and with over 100 runs still needed.

With wickets still falling regularly, Hart decided to try and win the game on his own and with some big hitting he raced to his 50 with 10 boundaries.

Unfortunately for Saints no one could stay long enough at the wicket with him and he was left stranded on 56 not out and St Michaels all out for 143.

With DMPS St Michaels now facing an uphill battle to gain promotion, no more slip ups can be afforded starting with a home match against bottom of the table, Motherwell this Saturday.

The Alex Wilson TV man of the match award went to Randall Hart for a fine all round performance, even with an injured hand.

Scoreboard: Titwood 218 - 9: D Rankine 3-53, R Hart 2-42, R Marscheider 2-53.

DMPS St Michaels 143 - all out: R Hart 56 n.o, P Sullivan 27, R Marscheider 20.