Saturday 27th August saw Albert Park meant to host Titwood. However, the SNCL fixtures meant that Weirs had been allocated a home game (which then got rained off on Saturday morning). But with the League Convenor, Weirs, Titwood and Glasgow Accies all being agreeable, the proposed Tom Kerr Championship match between Bees and Alps was moved the Sunday and the venue for the Albert Park v Titwood game was flipped to Titwood. And, despite some awful weather, both teams got the benefit of using the previous week’s International strip - although the edge of the square was a little damp.
Skipper Tim Hart won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to field. The game started slightly late, at 13:32, and reduced to 46 overs per side. All Titwood needed to secure the league was 3 points (or 5 wickets if bowling first). And, as with the first game between the sides, the Albert Park openers started confidently. Bilawal Pirzada didn’t look his usual probing self with the new ball and, although he bowled tightly, Johnny MacKay only really had one good LBW shout turned down. And the introduction of Imran Adrees to the attack didn’t provide the breakthrough either. With Imran twisting an ankle slightly and coming off after a shorter-than-planned first spell it was left to Tim to make the breakthrough, trapping Smith in front with his first delivery. With #3 being stumped by keeper Zulfiqar Shahid in the over before drinks, Weirs were nicely set at 80 odd for 2 off 25 overs…although this actually represented a decent fight-back from Titwood as it had been 50 odd off 10. Tim had bowled tightly but the key to the squeeze on the run rate was Suhaib Siddiqui, making his first 2nd XI appearance of the season. Bowling slightly more slowly than usual, the batters just didn’t have a way of scoring off of Suhaib - 6-2-12-0 and really being deserving of some wickets.
Following drinks, Tim bowled out, and both Bily and Imy came back on for second spells, after a one over cameo from Haroon Sher . BIly’s brief 3-over spell saw him have opener McCraig (who made a solid 58) safely held by Imy at mid off. Bily was then replaced at scoreboard end by Finlay Walker . A few overs later #4 Ashraf was caught by Haroon Sher at short mid wicket for 17 and 3 balls later Hanif’s hard hit drive saw him caught and bowled for 18 by Fin. (Maybe not the cleanest catch ever to win a league…but the ball trapped between arms and body does still count!) Albert Park 5 down, league title secured.
But there was still a game to finish and win. Imy bamboozled the lower order as usual, picking up 3 wickets in no time at all and there was also a 3rd wicket for Fin as Albert Park crept to 153/9 off their 46 overs a very good recovery from all the bowlers in tightening up the run rate. (Bily 1/34, Imy 3/24, Tim 2/24 and Fin 3/26 being the wicket takers.)
In reply, Haroon and Zulfi looked like finishing the game in no time. Harry dispatched anything off line, with a few trademark flicks through mid wicket and Zulfi swept a few cleanly hit boundaries. Then a mix-up led to Zulfi being run out for 23, Calum Lindsay followed bowled for 2 a couple of overs later, next over Harry was caught for 40 and 7 balls later Imy was bowled (chopped on) on 0. 61/0 becoming 72/4. Dave Forsyth and Tim took it to 87 before Tim (11) was bowled. But Dave looked well set to anchor the innings and see the side home. The only question was would he find any support? Bily batted very maturely and looked confident in getting to 7…before a rather careless run out saw the next wicket fall with the score on 115. But Fin would also provide good support for Dave. Fin would finish 10* and it was left to Dave to seal the win with a single to finish 39 not out - a solidifying innings which consisted mainly of well-judged singles which kept the strike rotating, with a few 2s and only the one boundary included. Titwood 154/6 with 9 overs to spare.
And, special thanks, as always, to Cyril McLatchie for having the ground in such good condition following the recent rain and to Colin Mitchell for making the game happen too.
