Glasgow Accies completed a thrilling 6 run victory in a Rowan Cup match played under thunder and lightning at new Anniesland last night (04-05).
The match was reduced from 20 to 18 overs a side with the late arrival of Accies' opposition and the impending gloom as deciding factors.
Fraser Murray won the toss for the first time this season and decided to have a bat. The pitch proved slow and low, and playing across the line proved the downfall for Dan Scott, Fraser Murray and Andrew Dodson, who perished for 10 runs between them to leave Accies 16-3, with Hillhead amateur Lyndsy claiming 3-10. Accies were out of the frying pan and into the fire when Horn had Richard Andrew caught without adding to the score.
A stand of 30 between Euan Sheridan and late arrival Ed Hunter saved Accies blushes to some extent. The pair raised the rate a bit - between them striking 3 of the game's 6 boundaries!
Hunter was dismissed by a yorker from Hillhead skipper Bond and Neil Dowers came to the crease and tried to up the rate in 1s and 2s -- sadly straining a quad in the process. He finished batting and his 10* along with Sheri's 19 and 6 between Kelso and Goyal took the score 68-7. Not an indefensible score, but pretty close to it.
Fraser Murray chose to open the bowling in the second innings with two spinners - Sheridan and Campbell - a risky move, considering Hillhead's slowest bowler went at 5/over.
The decision was immediately rewarded, as Campbell and Sheridan kept it tight and claimed 2 wickets apiece - the Hillhead score was 27-4 after the first 10.
A glorious light-show began raging overhead at this point, forked lightning carving through the gloom born of the ceiling of black clouds rolling in from the south. From here on, it became a race to finish before the heavens opened.
Abhay Andar and Dan Scott bowled medium-pace with Hunter over the stumps, keeping it tight, claiming a further 2 wickets apiece and letting Accies limp home by 6 runs as the first drops of rain began to fall.
After a hurried covering of the pitches, it was off inside for the victorious Accies to enjoy a drink upstairs and watch the storm run its course.