Saints fall at the last hurdle - just!

Sep 7 2011

DMPS St Michael’s Cricket Club travelled to top of the table side Prestwick last Saturday knowing that there was still a chance, albeit a small one, that they could pip their hosts to the WDCU Premiership title.

Saints needed to restrict the home side to just three points to be crowned as league champions, however, the formula for losing bonus points made this a very tall order, and one which made the toss crucial.

DMPS Saints skipper Heron called incorrectly in his last game in charge and on a wicket that looked perfect for bowling it was no surprise to anyone when opposition captain Pitt asked Saints to bat.

This meant that should Prestwick take seven wickets in the first innings they would have secured the four points they needed to win the title no matter what happened when they batted.

Only eight overs into the DMPS Saints innings the first wicket fell with Brockwell adjudged lbw for six from the bowling of talented youngster Morrison. Club stalwart Muir joined Gibson at the crease and took the attack to the home side with two crashing boundaries through cover being the highlight, however, having built a partnership of 42 he too was given lbw for 11, this time off the bowling of Scott.

Heron came and went disappointingly but this brought Larsen to the middle and with his fellow Kiwi the biggest partnership of the day developed.

Larsen played some quality shots all around the wicket while Gibson rode his luck somewhat but still accumulated runs in front of some potential suitors.

The Antipodean pair put on 47 runs until Gibson was the third lbw of the day, out for a hard earned 51 off the bowling of Pitt.

When Pitt claimed his second wicket, that of Larsen for a fluent 34, Saints were on 135-6 in the 43rd over and Prestwick were within touching distance of winning the league.

It only took another two overs for the home side to secure the seventh Saints wicket, this time Marscheider given out lbw when hit high on the thigh to send the home side into a mass celebration in the middle.

With the league lost, the remaining batsmen were instructed to attack and have some fun, with the aim of putting some quick runs on the board.

With such an approach wickets will undoubtedly fall quickly and DMPS Saints lost their last three wickets for only five runs, with Kishore unbeaten on 12 and the innings finishing on 146 in the 48th over.

During the interval the mood of the camp was obviously one of disappointment but also one of determination to get back on the field and win the game outright. DMPS Saints took the field wanting to prove that they were indeed a better team than Prestwick on the day, and leave a lasting impression should the sides indeed meet again in the near future.

It only took three overs for Saints to take their first victim, Larsen having MacDonald caught at mid-on by Gibson when the batsman tried once too often to try and hit his was out of trouble.

Adding to his wicketless day, Rafiq was the next to go for a single run, comprehensively clean bowled by Gibson in the sixth over, leaving the home side on 9-2.

Lawler and Rodger attacked Saints with some aggressive shots and had built a frustrating partnership until the former was caught by Larsen off the bowling of Foster who has undoubtedly been one of the finds of the season.

When Foster finished his spell, another new shining light for this season Tom Holmes was brought on and produced some magic first ball having Roger caught behind by the ever-reliable Farrukh for the highest Prestwick individual score of 37.

With Prestwick stumbling on 63-4 from 19 overs the game developed into the Chris Brockwell show.

Saints vice-captain produced a wonderful spell, taking four wickets for a mere 13 runs to destroy Prestwick’s middle/late order.

Aided by a Marscheider wicket, the solitary lbw to be awarded to Saints, and a suicidal run out between Pettigrew and A Scott, Prestwick were dismissed for only 92 runs on their home patch.

Despite losing the title - one bad day at the office versus Hillhead being the only defeat of the season and ultimately costing the side dearly - all the players who took the field can be proud of their efforts in comprehensively beating the side who will now represent the WDCU in the play- offs to reach the National League.

Everyone at DMPS St Michael’s would like to congratulate Prestwick on winning this season’s title and wish them all the best in the play-off games and pursuit to get promoted to the SNCL.

The club would also like to thank overseas players Corey Larsen and Jamie Gibson for all their efforts this season – both on and off the park – and wish them a safe trip home and every success with their future.

The Corner House Hotel, Annan man of the match award went to Chris Brockwell for his tremendous spell of bowling, leadership qualities and drive on the field.

When ratified as skipper for next year, the side will no doubt be in very capable and trustworthy hands.

DMPS St Michael’s CC: 146. J Gibson 51, C Larsen 34, A Scott 7.3-2-10-3, G Pitt 10-1-24-5.

Prestwick: 92 C Roger 37. C Larsen 5-1-21-1, J Gibson 5-3-7- 1, C Brockwell 10-5-13-4, C Foster 4-0-28-1, T Holmes 4-0-14- 1, R Marscheider 2-0-4-1, D Rankine 1-0-4-0.