From the Dressing Room: West end Clydesdale's 770-day unbeaten run
Our regular 1s reporter, vice-captain John Strachan, gives us the inside scoop on the Allied Vehicles West of Scotland XI’s victory over Clydesdale last weekend.
Let me take you back to the 15th of June 2024. It’s the day after Scotland’s Euro opening night horror show with Germany, Donald Trump is 5 months into his second term as US President, Robert Francis is yet to be announced Pope, Avatar 3 is on the minds of nobody but James Cameron, and Clydesdale CC have just suffered a top of the table clash with the current WDCU league holders Ayr.
Queue the next 770 days of pure Dale dominance across all cricketing formats in Scotland. When Ayr thought they were on track for a second consecutive league title, in reality, they had awoken a sleeping giant who then scythed their way through opponents week in week out for weeks to come. Even the power of Heriots from the east were no match for the nation's top team.
To put their run into perspective, you could walk from America's East coast, to its West, and back again, and you would STILL have days to spare. Whichever way you chop it up, there are plenty of remarkable things that could be said about it. However, around 7pm on the 25th of June 2026, West of Scotland made sure they got in the last word.
There are a few grounds in Scotland which I know to always bat first on, regardless of the conditions; Heriots, Ayr, Clydesdale, to name a few. So, when I found out we were bowling first, with only one seamer in the XI, I did monetarily fear for the worst. But it's not every day you get to play at Clydesdale and this was a shot at nothing. A shot to be enjoyed. The pressure was all on them.
Clydesdale will say they were without regulars Rahman, Alavala, Bashir, but I'll combat that with shortages of our own. Fry and Etheridge away, and Singh was nursing a hamstring injury. All on top of a long list of injuries to the likes of Kitchen, Carrasco, Brown, Yilapavanam, and we can't afford the luxury of being bolstered by Scotland's record run scorer and Captain, Berrington.
So, what do you do when you're pace bowling down? Replace it with more pace, of course. Step up James Fennah. Fastest in the West. And it didnt take him long. With our recent tactic of "bowling for run outs" coming up with dividends, I watched on from point as Khan tried to push a single to mid-on, only for the ball to be intercepted by Fennah. A quick swivel and release gave Malik time to gather, compose, and flick off the bails to the batsmen's dismay.
Quick as a flash at the other end, Pillay suddenly had the 19-year-old Qureshi trapped in front. Plum. Staring down the umpire does not help your case in the slightest for this one unfortunately.
Annnnd, here comes Berrington. Like clockwork, he bludgeoned 3 fours in his second over. Over cover, past Fennah's ears, then through cover again. There's absolutely no way anyone was stopping them. The ball was at the boundary before you heard the crack off the willow. There are going to be some sore hands here – oh, wait, he's just splattered a wide one, straight to me at point - phew, crisis averted...
Clydesdale were 22-3 at this point. But West knew this meant nothing considering we welcomed the pro to the crease with Rafay Khan who was becoming a thorn in our side. So, naturally we turned to debutant Innes Algie and Anthony Hulatt for 20 overs of leg spin wizardry.
Consistent flight, control, turn and bounce from one end, and aggressive, fizz and wonder from the other. The Dale scratched and flicked and danced and padded against the ever-rising pressure built from the two who were working in harmonious tandem - which was a real joy to watch from cover and long on.
Then the breaking point. Algie, staying patient, and showing no signs of pressure gave Hewawasam half an inch. He obliged by prodding the ball directly to the stationary Iqbal at cover. Raptures from myself and the west team. Unbelievable, what a scalp on debut! "Hey, Innie" Meeks calls out "What's that in your pocket, boy?". It was in fact professional cricketer Hewawasam.
Then comes Hulatt's time to shine. A sharp LBW to finally remove Khan for 32 before bowling Ghaffar around his legs (!) Shane Warne style. Which, I'm sure, is no news to whoever is reading this report as Tonza told everyone that night and has started referring to similar incidents as "nearly a Ghaff" at trainings.
West continued to grind out the tail of the Clydesdale innings, thanks to some pretty economical bowling from myself, Fennah and Meeks as they ended on 148.
Special mention to pagey, who got a fun over in the 49th thanks to the both of us miscounting.
The tale of the West innings was in keeping with our nature. We struggled to start, and when we do, we struggle to kick on. Taking some lessons from how Prestwick played last weekend, we put opening bowler, now opening batter, Fennah, up top to try hurry the run rate. Unfortunately, that was unsuccessful.
Skipper Page took on a sweep, Fennah a tried a pull, Appleton a loft, Pillay attacked the spinner and Malik tested Ritchie Berrington in the field. Unfortunately, all second best. Richards received a tough LBW and Mills and myself were claimed by a fired up Ghaffar in the same over. Stop me if you've heard this all before.
60 runs were required, 2 wickets in hand. Moneeb Iqbal and Hulatt at the crease, I wondered what the "win predictor" would be saying.
Iqbal, reminding the spectators that class is permanent, crashed sixes over mid-off into the clubhouse (nearly killing some old fella who made it known to us that he came from Kilwinning to watch Dale win), while Hulatt nudged a few good-looking runs in support. The partnership made its way into the 30s before Hulatt crunched a drive through covers to thunderous cheers from the changing room. A confidence boosting shot that no doubt added favour to my imaginary win predictor only to be caught sweeping next ball. Not that i can really make any comments after my helpless contribution but "play straight Tonza" comes to mind.
Fifteen runs needed, debutant Algie joined the man with Clydesdale between his teeth. Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, single. Moneeb on strike. Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, single. Moneeb on strike. A masterclass on how its done. Goaded Dale into bringing back their strike bowlers, then watched them depart without a single chance created – apart from one ball which didn't bounce; I nearly landed on Fennah's lap, skipper had his hands on his head, mouth wide, eye transfixed on the proceedings, Tonza facing the back wall with his eyes shut, changing room silent. My win predictor briefly flashed to 0% before returning to the balance.
From here we watched on with bated breath as we saw Iqbal and Algie defy the cricket gods to overturn Dale and inflict their first defeat in 770 days. Iqbal, striking runs early in the over, and Algie holding his nerve, resisting temptation at the end. A clip off the pads into square leg sent the West boys wild, which included chairman Colin Mair, who looked in severe nerve-wracked pain for the last several overs.
Joyous celebrations rang out, high fives and hugs. An unbelievable effort as Algie who finished 0* off 21 balls, and Iqbal with a heroic 61*. What a difference a week makes. And on that, next we take on newly chaired leaders Ferguslie. Does lightning strike twice at the top? We'll find out.
