Accies’ 2015 season got underway on Saturday with a repeat of last season’s championship-clinching match against St Michaels at New Anniesland. It was not to be a repeat of last year’s result, however, as Accies slumped to a huge defeat.
The day started cold and bright, and skipper Richard Andrew won the toss, choosing to bat on a damp pitch in the hope that first use would prove the best.
Accies’ new-look opening pair of Neil Dowers and Habib Malik took to the crease, and the decision to bat initially looked sensible, as Dowers dispatched two boundaries behind square on the off side in medium-pacer Ur-Rehman’s first over. Although the pitch was a little sticky, the ball seemed to come onto the bat fairly well, and speed across the early-season outfield when well timed.
St Michaels opened the bowling at the other end with returning star Chris Brockwell, whose left-arm spin immediately began to exert control. His excellent bowling was given assistance by the pitch, with some balls skidding straight on and others gripping and turning, making even his looser deliveries potentially dangerous. So it proved, as Malik attacked a short ball wide of the off stump that stopped in the pitch, resulting in a limp chip to cover for the game’s first wicket.
Andrew joined Dowers at the crease, and the contest continued much as before: short balls from the seamer being dispatched with relative ease – Dowers moved quickly to 16 with four boundaries – and the left-arm spinner strangling any attacking intent at the other end. The left-armer’s endeavour was further rewarded when Dowers cut loosely at a short ball, succeeding only in guiding a fine edge to the keeper.
The rest of Accies innings developed in this fashion, with no batsman ever really seeming set on a difficult pitch. Euan Sheridan and Andrew looked in slow-scoring control of their situation before a ball from seamer Khan popped nastily at Andrew, who could only feather a nick behind the stumps. Nirvik Ganapathi played with his usual abandon, top-scoring with 28 in only 35 balls including five powerfully-struck boundaries. Meanwhile, Sheridan edged Holmes behind after a gritty ten, before Ganapathi was trapped in front by the same bowler, leaving Accies reeling.
Dave Holloway (18) and Sheraz Chohan (24) built a decent partnership, balancing defence with well-placed attack, though Holloway was trapped in front by the excellent leg-spinner Hullat just as he began to look settled. Sheraz managed to weather a storm for a period and together with Cammy Russell (11*) pushed Accies up to 147-9 in their 50 overs.
The home side might have hoped the total would be enough, especially having twice defended small totals against St Michaels last season. It would take discipline in the field and with the ball, and plenty of assistance from the pitch, but the game seemed to be in the balance.
Sadly for Accies, the tone was set early in an innings in which Accies never really seemed to compete. Habib Safi and Faraz Chohan opened the bowling, but erred consistently too short, allowing Brockwell and Holmes to play themselves in in relative comfort.
This required the introduction of last week’s game-changing spinner, Malik, after only four overs. It soon became apparent that the pitch had lost many of its demons, as the batsmen negotiated the introduction of Malik and skipper Andrew with an ease in sharp contrast with Accies’ innings.
The one bright spot for Accies came when Brockwell edged Malik to Holloway, but when Hullat joined Holmes, the required runs came in a procession.
Holmes hit out and rode his luck, chipping a few balls into gaps, and Accies knew that luck was against them when star fielder Ganapathi dropped a high catch at long-on as it swirled in the cold early-May wind and drizzle.
Holmes and Hullat proceeded to knock off Accies’ total with 24 overs to spare, neutralising all of Accies’ bowing options as Andrew chopped and changed with no more than a hint of success.
The loss marks a disappointing start to the season for newly-promoted Accies, with the matches against their fellow promoted teams surely being prime targets for victory to consolidate a place in the WDCU First Division.
Accies will look to get their campaign back on track with a trip to Irvine, who also lost to newly-promoted Kilmarnock on Saturday, with Accies surely spurred on by the memory of last year’s two victories at Maress.