Ferguslie 203 all out lost to Glasgow Accies 206-6 by 4 wickets.
Match played at Meikleriggs, Paisley on Sunday 26th April 2015 at 12:30.
Friendly, 40 overs-a-side.
Toss won by Ferguslie, who elected to bat.
Scorer: CAC Dawson.
Glasgow Accies got season 2015 underway with a friendly victory against a mixed Ferguslie 1/2XI at Meikleriggs.
Ferguslie batted first and made brisk progress through Stafford and overseas amateur de Beer. Anything loose from Accies openers Russell and Cherry was dispatched with disdain by the hard-hitting pair, before Malik was called upon to take the pace off the ball, drying up the runs then producing a ripper of a delivery that gripped and sharply turned past the amateur's bat, clean bowling him for a well-made 44. Malik added the wicket of Ahmed, caught at slip for duck, while Stafford's fine innings ended when he chipped a catch to the omnipresent Malik, bringing Accies back into the game after a poor start.
When Malik completed his eight overs with figures of 2-31, the prodigal son Euan Sheridan (3-33) was reintroduced to the Accies attack. He picked up regular wickets, as did Safi (1-34) and Cherry (2-45) at the other end, as the Ferguslie innings that had started so brightly petered out for 203ao in 39.5 overs.
After the innings break, Dowers and Malik took to the crease to open the Accies reply. Although the innings began briskly, Malik did not last long before being bowled for 3 by a wicked Preston-Jones in-ducker. Andrew joined Dowers at the crease, and kept the score moving with a frenetic, run-a-ball 27, before nicking Cameron behind with the score on 60. Sheridan took his place and he and Dowers built a solid 58-run partnership, Dowers hitting the club's first six of the year over square leg and passing 50 with a drive down the ground, before playing his next ball too softly, back onto his stumps to end his innings on 51. Ganapathi and Sheridan added a further 45, bringing Accies within touching distance of victory, before Ganapathi and Holloway were caught out in quick succession, giving Ferguslie a way back in with five wickets down and 40 still required to win. Although they managed to remove Cherry cheaply, Satpute and Sheridan showed cool heads to guide Accies home. Sheridan completed his return to Accies action with a thunderous four over mid-off, ending the game and bringing up his 50 with the final ball of the 39th over.
The win sets Accies up for a busy opening weekend, as the club welcomes St Michaels to New Anniesland for a repeat of the final league match of last season, before taking on SMRH in the first round of the Scottish Cup at home on Sunday. As always, all support is gratefully welcomed.