From the Dressing Room: Prestwick seize their moment
Allied West of Scotland's vice-captain John Strachan on the story of last week’s home defeat to Prestwick.
The irony of this report is, being vice-captain, I decide on the duties for match day. These include responsibilities such as leading the warmup, placing the 30 yard circle, and of course, the match report. Third place West of Scotland at home to bottom side Prestwick? I’ll enjoy writing about that... was perhaps the first domino to fall as a silent storm brewed under the glorious blue skies at Hamilton Crescent.
It was like Day 2 in the middle at West, last week's occasional awkward bounce had been squashed out by further good weather and rolling and things were looking good. Coins flipped, handshakes shared, we're batting. Excellent. Out march skipper Page and the return of the illusive Appleton to face off against a hungry Prestwick side who had fallen short of victory so often in recent weeks.
The second domino fell as Page received a delightful ball which clipped the top of off stump and while Appleton and Richards looked to push through a buoyant Prestwick side, it wasn't long before Richards slapped a drive - through a call of "shoooooootttt" from skipper Page - straight to point off the 'Wick Amm. Okay, we're 21-2, but there's no need to panic, right? Of course, here comes Meeks - I catch myself thinking. Surely enough, the ever-reliant Professional Pillay soon had the ball in Peel Street. I relaxed.
What came next was one of the worst decisions you ever see - if you don't believe me, go check the frogbox. Sweeping a ball a long way down leg, a half-hearted (half-relieved not to be asking for the ball back from the peel street residents) appeal from the bowler saw the finger raised, and Prestwick reeling. If you think that was unlucky, I forgot to mention Appleton chopped on just moments before.
In came the likes of Malik, myself, Iqbal and Hulatt, all of us failing to take west beyond the 100 mark as West lost 5 wickets for 30 runs. You could draw some similarities with the west batting line-up and a golden retriever... There are touches of class, eagerness, energy, determination, even if sometimes we don't fully comprehend what is going on around us, but boy does our tail wag. More than once this season the tail has provided us with a total to defend.
Spearheaded by ex-skipper, now Western Warrior, Fennah, who finished on a well-battled, well-managed, and well-played 31, was helped by a gritty Etheridge and a career best score from Fry (who finished on an incredulous 26 from 33), West found themselves on 159 all out. A total we all agreed was short of expectations.
As tea was taken, "should be enough"; says famous Scottish ICC umpire and Prestwick legend Haggo with a wink. I replied with a nervous nod. Cricket is a strange sport.
So strange that the first ball of the Prestwick innings sailed through to Malik's gloves having kissed the edge of the openers bat. Only for the spirit of Alex Hales and Jason Roy to take to the crease as balls sailed to the boundary rope over cover and through point as the opposition raced to 58 in 5 overs. Cricket is a very strange sport.
Finally, when the law of averages prevailed and the Pro v Ammy battle was won by pro, quickly followed by an interesting LBW decision (one to level out the first innings I'm sure), the 'Wick batters hunkered down, giving nothing away and taking their required 2 runs an over. Led by a flawless innings from Jadhav, spurred on by McBeth and the smiling Tommy Fleet (relieved of father duties for the day) the end was insight for the team desperate for victory.
A bit like myself and this report, West ran out of ideas, as the life was slowly squeezed out of the game to thunderous cheers and celebrations from the well-travelled Ayrshire support.
Respect to Prestwick, they had great fight and played to their strengths, while it was a tough pill to swallow for the West team who travel to table topped Clydesdale on Saturday.
