Glasgow Accies secured the WDCU Premiership title with a second victory of the season over St Michael’s CC.
Richard Andrew won the toss and chose to bat first, believing in his in-form bowling line-up’s ability to defend whatever the batsmen managed to cobble together on a slow pitch and long outfield.
Conditions played their part in a slow but steady Accies innings, as did the accuracy of St Mike’s overseas bowlers Thapar and Cummins, with boundaries proving very hard to come by.
Richard Andrew put together an aggressive 19 before being excellently caught by Thapar, sprinting backwards at mid-off. David Holloway came and went lbw yet again before Neil Dowers joined Habib Malik at the crease to push the score on to 50. Malik was caught attacking Cummins and Dowers chipped a soft catch to point to bring together Nirvik Ganapathi and Ewan Stewart to share the largest partnership of the Accies innings (35). Ganapathi reined in his natural aggression save for one huge six, whilst Stewart made his usual hard-hitting approach pay to top score.
Wickets fell in a bunch when this pair was broken, but John Cherry and Farhan Shah came together to add some crucial late runs. Farhan in particular showed his class with the bat, comfortably dealing with and dispatching the pace of Thapar in his second spell, before popping a return catch off the final ball of the overseas seamer’s spell.
Accies’ total of 135 may not look imposing on paper, but on a slow pitch and slower outfield it was likely worth closer to 200, and Accies were quietly confident of defending it and taking the title.
The chase started perfectly for Accies as Holmes was run out without facing off the fourth ball of the innings, Cammy Russell’s powerful arm proving far too quick and accurate for the opener.
Soon after, Muir was excellently caught at mid-off by Euan Stewart, diving low to his left.
This brought together Cummins and Thapar, the overseas players, with two wickets down. The pair showed their class, seeing off the dangerous opening attack of Farhan and Dan Hamilton without further loss, though also without adding many runs.
The St Mike’s pair may have hoped for a let up when the change bowlers came on, but Andrew and Dhruv Satpute continued to apply the pressure and restrict the runs. Andrew had both Cummins and Thapar dropped behind the wicket in his first two overs, and doubts may have begun to creep into Accies’ minds this may not have been their day.
The drinks break provided the impetus for Accies to storm back ahead of the game, with Cummins chipping a catch to Stewart off the deserving Andrew.
The scales tipped further in Accies’ favour when number five Hullat hit a steepling catch to Satpute off Andrew, and off the very next ball the same two Accies combined to run out number six Sharma without facing, attempting to steal an ill-advised second run for Thapar.
The game effectively ended as a contest when Andrew completed his three-for by clean bowling Thapar for 35 with a ball that seamed back at St Mike’s leading batsman, demolishing his stumps.
From this point, wickets fell in a procession with Hamilton and Farhan brought back to mop up the tail, which they managed in quick time. Accies took all twelve points and the WDCU title without conceding even a losing bonus point to the visitors.
Accies were described last week by the WDCU Administrator as having ‘come from nowhere’ to lead the WDCU Premiership going into the last weekend. This description is probably fair, and it is doubtful that even the most optimistic Accies players or supporters could have predicted a league championship, with mid-table safety looking a likely and even an attractive outcome for most of the season.
The change in fortunes owes much to putting together the opening bowling combination of Farhan and Hamilton, a fearsome right/left pace duo, sure to strike fear into the hearts of opening batsmen of any quality.
The win also represents the coming together of tireless skipper Richard Andrew’s vision, having created a strong squad of largely home-grown talent to see the team through most challenges. Accies owes a great debt of gratitude to its captain for his hard work over the past few seasons.
Accies would also like to thank everyone who has played for the club at any level this season, come to support the side, coached or supervised juniors, helped out with administration, or otherwise given time to the club. Although the first team has won the title, this represents a whole-club success and everyone involved in Accies should be proud.
Onwards and upwards.
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