Cricket: 'We just didn't get going!'

Jun 30 2009 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

GUTTED Stuart Nye reckons Ferguslie blew a golden opportunity in their SNCL First Division clash with Drumpellier at Meikleriggs.

Basement boys Ferguslie have had a terrible start to the league campaign this season, with just one victory in nine matches, and Saturday’s performance was painful to watch for supporters of the Paisley side.

But last year’s Scottish Cup winners were quietly confident going into the match with fifth-placed Drumpellier and were aiming to drag their rivals into the relegation dog-fight.

However, their opponents scored a respectable total of 235 for four – including a brilliant knock of 121 not out by Zaheed Mohammed – after 50 overs, leaving the Paisley side with a tough task.

And some poor batting piled the misery on Ferguslie, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table after Drumpellier completed an easy 84-run win.

Greig Cameron and Richard Rutnagur kept things tight for Ferguslie early on, recording figures of 23 for one and 19 for one respectably.

But some brilliant batting from Drumpellier’s Mohammed gave the Paisley side a considerable challenge after 50 overs.

The ’Lie, who had booked their place in the second round of the Scottish Cup with a win over Stenhousemuir the previous week, couldn’t transfer that form to the league and eventually folded at 152 all out.

Nye, who is Ferguslie’s cricket convener, said: “It was a missed opportunity against Drumpellier on Saturday. I was hoping we could sneak a result and maybe drag them into the relegation zone with us but it wasn’t to be.

“We certainly got off to a bad start when it was our turn to bat and it really made it difficult when we lost three early wickets with only 29 runs on the board.

“A start like that was not really what you want when you are chasing 235 and it really didn’t get any better afterwards. That certainly didn’t install confidence in the lads.”

There were some encouraging signs for Ferguslie as their overseas player Pravanjan Mullick hit a respectable score of 41, while Stewart Kennedy racked up 25 runs.

However, Nye said: “Apart from those scores, there was not many plus points.

“It was a poor performance all round. We were not particularly good with the bat or ball and it was very disappointing.

“However, we will take some lessons into training from Saturday and discuss where we went wrong and hopefully dust ourselves down and prepare for the clash with the side that is currently sitting at the top of the table – Dunfermline.”