Ardencaple v Windyedge (15/06/14) scorecard

Following the earlier washed out match against Clydesdale hopes were high as Martin Oliver and his young team travelled to Helensburgh for the 4's "inaugural" friendly match - the sun was trying to shine and keeping the dreaded Ardencaple midges at bay!!

On a difficult pitch the Accies' lads found runs hard to come by with only Thomas Aston [21] in the top order making any real contribution.  There was then a mid-innings recovery between Auid Iqbal [15] and Lewis Oliver [10no] putting on 35 runs between them.  Three quick wickets then brought father and son combination, Martin and Lewis, together with Martin at No11 punishing the bowling with 5 boundaries for a quickfire 30no.  Lewis [aged 10] had batted for resolutely for 20 overs for his 10no showing his older team mates his abaility to concentrate and stay at the crease waiting for someone else to help him out.

In the Helensburgh innings wickets were spread between Ali Fry, Qasim Qayyum, David McAllister, Lewis Oliver and Cameron Russell putting the home team under pressure.  Experienced campaigners Clayton Lambert and Ian Chambers then came together for the 9th wicket and seemed untroubled by earlier chaos when, out of the blue and contrary to all weather forecasts, it began to rain.  Play continued for a while and those dreaded midges suddenly appeared.  It was hugely amusing watching everyone in the middle fighting off these annoying little creatures and eventually sense prevailed and the match was abandoned after 28 overs more because of the rain but much to the relief of all concerned!

CACD