THE CURTAIN is set to fall on Greenock Cricket Club's 2024 league season as they prepare for their final fixture of the Western Premiership Two programme this weekend.
Their opponents at Glenpark are Renfrew, who currently sit in third top position, less than one full percentage point above Greenock who are fourth, so there is still something to play for in this final match.
A further factor which will add some extra interest for the match will be the follow-on from the meeting of the two sides at the end of June.
On that occasion, the neutral umpire allocated for the match called off, and so the two teams agreed to umpire the match using their own players. But it did not work out well.
Greenock batted first and had scored 108 for the loss of just three wickets after only 17 overs had been bowled in the 50 over innings, with Connor Nowlan unbeaten on 76.
At that point in the match there was a disputed run-out decision, following which the Renfrew side walked off the pitch, refusing to continue and ending the match.
Later, the live TV feed which was available on the day, showed that the player umpire had made the correct decision regarding the disputed run out.
The Western District Cricket Union (WDCU) awarded the match and points to Greenock.
Renfrew appealed the decision, but their appeal was very recently dismissed when a national appeal panel unanimously agreed with the original WDCU decision and awarded the match and points in Greenock’s favour.
The top two positions in the league table are now unassailable and Dumfries and Kelburne will gain promotion to the Western Premiership One for season 2025.
The third top position will be determined at Glenpark on Saturday, should the ground manage to overcome the lengthy spell of wet weather which has soaked the area over the last couple of weeks.
Both Greenock and Renfrew have had an inconsistent season with neither side managing to string a good run of wins together at any point over the summer.
Renfrew have completed 14 matches during the league season and won eight of these games. In each of their meetings with the top two teams, Dumfries and Kelburne, they were very heavily defeated, but the team gained their best win of the season against fifth-placed Kilmarnock, winning by 21 runs in a very high scoring match.
Renfrew’s top player has been their Bangladeshi professional Myshukur Rahman, who has scored more than 500 runs and taken 23 wickets during the league season.
Also useful for Renfrew are Farhan Khan and Hussanain Haider, who have contributed well with both bat and ball.
Greenock, of course. will be keen to finish the season with a win to gain third top spot in the league table.
With conditions likely to favour the bowlers, Greenock will hope to win the toss of the coin, insert Renfrew and bowl them out for as low a score as possible.
If, however, it is the Renfrew captain who wins the toss and asks Greenock to bat, then the home batters will need to work very hard to ensure that a competitive total can achieved from their innings.
Much may depend on the two young Aussie players who have been a mainstay of the side during the season: Connor Nowlan and Angus Tolhurst have both scored centuries over the summer and feature in the top ten batters in the Western Premiership Two stats.
A final flourish of runs from them both on Saturday would be a fine way for them to end their stay at Greenock.
Chirag Pandher played an important innings in the recent win over second top Kelburne. He was unbeaten on 30 and provided vital support to Tolhurst as the pair reeled in the Paisley side’s total to gain a fine win.
Pandher has been a fine all-rounder for the team, particularly in the second half of the season, and his contributions against Renfrew will be important on Saturday.
The ‘evergreen’ Sam Sanghera has overcome a number of injuries and is in the side. He will be keen to contribute a number of overs and also some runs and see the team finish the season with a home win.
The 2024 season has brought a number of Greenock’s younger players to the fore: Aryan Sanghera, Inam Khan, Cammy Calder, Ewan Stewart, Usman Mansoor, Mo Ahmadzai, PJ Bryceland. The experience they have gained augurs well for the future.
On Saturday, against Renfrew, a number of them will have the opportunity to end the season by beating ‘The Ferrymen’ and lifting the side into third top position in the league.
Of course, the weather might just yet prove to be the factor which prevents Greenock from having that opportunity.
Greenock’s 1st XI team for the match against Renfrew at Glenpark on Saturday will be: C.J. Nowlan (capt), M. Ahmadzai, P.J. Bryceland, C. Calder, I. Khan, U. Mansoor, C.S. Pandher, A.S. Sanghera, S.S. Sanghera, E. Stewart, A.S. Tolhurst.
The match on Saturday at Glenpark will start at 12noon.
Greenock’s 2nd XI, Glenpark, travel along the M8 and over the Erskine Bridge to north-west Glasgow on Saturday to face Milngavie's 2nd XI at the Garscube Sports Complex on Saturday. The team for this match will be from P. Robertson (capt), Z. Dilsoz, F. Dinarkhel, Y. Hayat, S. Hussain, R. Kumar, C. Prabhu, H. Safi, D. Sharma, M. Zeeshan. A.N. Other.
The match at Garscube will start at 12 noon.
Greenock Cricket Club is sponsored by Cleaning Supplies 4U.
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