Report of league game against Glendelvine on 26^th May 2001

At Glendelvine Gordon McKinnie won the toss for Strathearn and elected to field. His decision was rewarded instantly as Grant Laing was bowled second ball by George McKenzie. The Strathie openers ensured the pressure was increased on the homeside, and they were reduced to 28-4 by the end of the 15th over. McKenzie grabbing three of the wickets to fall. As he has done in previous weeks, Brian Tait, with excellent support from Sandy Baird, brought Glendelvine back into the game by taking the attack to the visitors. A mixture of solid defence and fair sprinkling of well executed boundaries, including a huge straight six, put Strathearn on the back foot. In company with Baird who was starting

to open out himselt the fifth wicket partnership was worth 61 when Tait mistimed a full toss to David Baird at square leg to depart for 44 in the 30th over.

Sandy ensured the run rate was kept up in Tait’s absence before he fell in the 38th over for an enterprising 36. A late flurry of runs brought the host’s total to 137-7, which was acceptable in view of the start the innings had. George McKenzie was the pick of the bowlers with 3-27.

In reply Strathearn suffered an early blow as Stuart Morris was bowled by Sandy Baird in the sixth over at 5-1. Because of the tightness of the bowling at this stage, Gordon McKinnie adopted a change in personal policy by deciding attack was the best option to take.

He accelerated the scoring through a wide variation of strokes, some textbook, most not, and he proceeded to dominate the early scoring before the loss of Hill for four at 40-2. In partnership with Ian Pattullo, the score had moved to 78-2 when a drinks break was taken at the end of the 22nd over.

Whatever went in the orange juice it went to McKinnie’s head as next ball, he gleefully sent the ball straight down Sandy Baird’s throat in the deep having just reached 51 in the previous oven Five balls later Pattullo (14) departed to Alec Baird to leave Strathie 80-4.

With Glendelvine apparently now holding the upper hand, both Andy Fennell and George McKenzie were cautious in their approach to the bowling. However some slick running between the wickets soon increased the tempo and gradually their pair eased Strathie to the winning post. Having added 56 for the sixth wicket, Fennel departed for 25 with two runs required, leaving McKenzie the honour of hitting the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 33 with 16 balls to spare.

For Glendelvine Brian Tait and Sandy Baird were the pick of the bowlers with the former unlucky not to achieve more success than his 2-37.