Inverclyde          133 for 7

Woodfarm         137 for 4

IN this competitive WDCU Championship Div 3 fixture Inverclyde lost out to second top Woodfarm at Gourock Park on Saturday.

Put into bat first on a surprisingly lively damp wicket, Inverclyde’s openers gave a steady start against the visitors’ pacey attack until David Thomson edged Tariq behind at 22 for one in the seventh over. 

A solid second wicket partnership took the score to 63 in the 21st over when Douglas Pilkington was out LBW to Azam for 19.

Chris Dick was bowled then Paul Singh failed to repeat two fine boundaries to be caught at slip for 11.

Matt Walton joined Scott Campbell who had been batting well while building the Inverclyde's score.  Walton picked up the pace, progressing the score to 113 in 35 overs when he was caught behind off Mahmood for 21.

Campbell and captain Gareth James attacked the Woodfarm bowlers until Campbell was bowled by Hussain in the 39th over after a fine knock of 31 runs. 

Benny Deak was bowled in the final over and Nicole Waterland batted out the final deliveries, with James remaining undefeated at the close of 40 overs with Inverclyde’s innings closing on 133 for 7.

Inverclyde had the perfect start to the defence of their reasonable total when Pilkington held a fine catch down legside in James’ first over to dismiss Hussain.

Hussan attacked from the start of his innings, giving several difficult chances, but these proved to be expensive misses.

James bowled Iqbal in the fifth over but Surwan and Hussan then built the match winning partnership, taking the total to 126 when Singh trapped Hussan leg before for 86 runs which had included 12 boundaries. 

Singh then bowled Tariq but Sores hit the next ball for the winning runs in the 24th over, Surwan finishing on 26 not out.  Singh took two wickets for 26, James 2 for 62, while Walton and Dick bowled well without success. 

Inverclyde’s fielders have had better days in the outfield with only one of several admittedly tough chances held in the tricky windy conditions.  

Outdoor practices continue on Tuesdays from 6 to 8pm, and junior coaching continues on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11.30 am.