Ardrossan 164-9 (6 pts) lost to Alps 166-5 (25 pts) by 5 wickets.
Match played at Memorial Field, Ardrossan on Saturday 26th April 2008 at 13:00.
Brunton Miller Western Union Division 5, 100 overs.
Toss won by Ardrossan, who elected to bat.
The long awaited season started.
The start of the day was gloomy and we were sure that this game will added to the long list of matches canceled due to bad weather and it seemed so when we arrived at Ardrossan. With doubts in our minds we decided to wait and see if the weather improves and it did.
We lost the toss and Ardrossan decided to bat. Myles Shields started Alps attack with his usaul pace bowling but the first blow was struck by our young debutante Suhaib Siddiqui, having just missed the wicket bowled a beautiful delivery forcing the the batsman to edge the ball to Ken Austin.
All our bowlers did their job Wajid Bashir and Stuart Murray took a wicket each, Suhaib 3 wkts and Myles 4 wkts. Although Chris Dunbar, our another debutee, bowled well but was unfortunate not to get any wickets. Ardrossan completed the designated 50 overs and made 164 for 9 wkts a formidable target for us.
Ken Austin made his debut as our wicket keeper and did well, however, there were couple of instances where the ball just slipped away from him. Overall his performance was good and we did not give many byes (just 3).
No match is without it's moments, for Alps it was the usual dropped catches. Indecision between Suhaib, Wajid and Raj as the ball dropped in the middle and an opportunity went to waste. However, all Alps must be applauded for their fielding and specially Chris who fielding was exceptional.
After the tea, Alps took to bat. George Paton and Raj Soman started well, unfortunately George fell for an unusual bonce from what a newly laid artificial pitch was caught for 14. Dougie went in to take the charge but unfortunately ran himself out, Ken despite the captain's instruction to support Raj decided to go for it and was caught for 2.
It was then our captain Farhaj Siddiqui decided to take the matter in his own hand and give Raj the support he needed to carry on demolishing Ardrossan attack. Raj scored a massive 74 and was eventually caught trying to hit yet another boundary.
It was then upto Farhaj and Chris to bring Alps home they batted well and this has been the first time our Captain stayed put not trying to hit every ball and it paid off, he was eventually caught for 28. David Jones then brought Apls the deserved victory with a beautiful boundary.