On Sunday Glasgow Accies travelled to Forthill in Broughty Ferry to face Huntly in the final of the freshly rebranded Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup. The fixture marked a repeat of the 2010 SCU Trophy final at Stirling, which Huntly won relatively comfortably.
In a dry and even occasionally sunny Dundee, Accies skipper Andrew lost the toss but was happy to be invited to bat on a hard pitch with a quick outfield
Andrew himself and Malik opened the innings for Accies, and the effects of Huntly's long drive down were quickly in evidence when, despite some disciplined bowling, Malik was dropped twice before getting off the mark. Those were the only chances he would offer all innings as he went on to compile a composed and mature 86 from only 82 balls. The knock was Malik's first 1XI fifty and the fulfilment of the potential he has long exhibited as a batsman.
Andrew and Malik were separated after a brisk opening stand of 63 when the former lobbed a return catch to Huntly professional, left-arm spinner Variath. In strode overseas amateur Bartholomew and immediately hit the pro out the attack. The Brisbanite savaged the Huntly bowling for the next nineteen overs, striking 11 fours on his way to a 43-ball 74. Malik remained steadfast at the other end, dispatching anything bowled too straight through the leg side and generally looking in complete command of the situation. The partnership was finally broken when Bartholomew went for one big hit too many and was adjudged lbw.
By this time the score had moved on to 182-2 from just 30 overs and Accies looked set to record an imposing total. Credit, however, is due to Huntly for remaining calm and exerting pressure on the new batsmen at a difficult time to start an innings. A six-wicket middle-order collapse followed, and Accies ultimately limped over the line at 221-8 off their 40 overs. Although Accies would probably have accepted the total before the game started, they were certainly a bit disappointed to finish so meekly following a promising start, and momentum was firmly with the Aberdeenshire team going into the second innings.
Huntly's chase began in solid fashion, with professional Variath looking ominously composed and timing the ball with effortless grace. 16 year-old Dhruv Satpute made scoring very difficult in his five-over spell, bowling an impeccable line and length backed by committed fielding from his team mates. His and Accies' reward came in the tenth over when he let slip a rare loose ball, a leg-side half-tracker, which Variath flicked sweetly to Dowers at backward square leg. Thomson followed soon afterwards, excellently caught behind off his inside edge by Nag from Bartholomew.
This brought together Ferguson and Howard, who still haunts the dreams of many an Accies bowler after masterminding Huntly's successful chase in the 2010 final. The pair combined to share a chanceless 74-run stand, and although Huntly never got above the asking rate, Accies couldn't help but fear a repeat performance from Howard was in the offing. Dowers and Malik were vocal from their boundary fielding positions in reminding their team-mates - and the batsmen - that Accies remained in the lead and that a chance would have to come. Howard finally offered that half chance after reaching another hugely impressive half-century, driving a full ball from Shah to Dodson at short mid-wicket. Any other fielder in the Accies team would probably have been lucky to avoid being injured by the shot, but Dodson proved once again his calibre as fielder, snatching the catch two-handed, and prompting wild celebrations from the fielding team and the assembled Accies supporters. Cricket Scotland Executive Roddy Smith would describe this moment as the turning point in the game and a tactical masterstroke by Andrew.
From that point on Huntly ran into the same problem as Accies had in the first innings, with new batsmen coming and going as they struggled to raise the scoring rate.
Huntly were ultimately dismissed in the final over for 194 runs; a 27-run victory for Accies. 14 year-old Cameron Russell also bowled an impressively mature spell under intense pressure and all at Accies look forward to his continued development. Satpute returned to clean up the tail, finishing with 1XI career-best figures of 4-22 in his 7.4 overs. Andrew shared in the spoils with three wickets and Bartholomew two as Accies wrapped up victory.
Scorecard
The CS Challenge Cup gives Accies something to show for a frustrating, stop-start summer and is the first time Accies has triumphed in a nationwide competition. The club hopes to channel the success to put pressure on WDCU-Premiership-topping Hillhead over the coming weeks, as well as to progress in the Western Cup, in the quarter-final of which Accies takes on Nunholm in Dumfries this coming Sunday.
A huge thanks from all at the club to those who showed up to support us and who sent us good wishes via facebook and twitter. Please join us for a victory party at the club at 8pm on Saturday 11 August and/or come down to support the 1XI as they take on GHK in the Anniesland derby. Bar open from 5pm.