Despite the best efforts of Storm Betty (who names these storms?) Galloway CC, kindly sponsored by The Galloway Lodge, managed to get a full game in against friendly visitors from East Kilbride Cricket Club at the Gatehouse Cricket Ground in Cally estate.
In their penultimate, and final, game of the season some wonderful individual and team moments combined to allow the Galloway team to finish the home season with a success! A challenging and difficult home season brought to an end in wonderful fashion.
Skipper McMenemy chose to bat first, after considering the previous weeks outcome – and this proved a good decision.
A slightly delayed start allowed the game to begin, curtailed as it was to 48 overs max per team.
Batting first the home season lost early wickets to the pacy opening pair of Swanevelder and Kampman.
Before a terrific partnership between Domanic and Somarajan settled nerves, smashed the ball and catapulted the scoreboard along with great batting. Domanic falling for an excellent 43 – allowing Somarajan to continue on his wonderful, merry way despite losing batting partners. A stoic innings by Bradley enabled Somarajan to flow before he fell for 12 to the spin pair of Doyle, in tandem with Mahmood. Somarajan continued – and continued to accumulate runs. Before, with some anxiety due to loss of partners, managing to achieve the single to take him to a magnificent century – plaudits to young Thorburn for accompanying him across the threshold ! The Galloway innings closed on a well put together 199 ao from 43 overs. Pick of the crop our Kerala kings Somarajan and Domanic.
Following tea’s and a breather the Galloway side took to the field knowing they were in with a chance yet also knew they faced strong batting opposition.
The crowd of supporters and well-wishers were now enjoying the warmth of the day, which turned into a belter – nice to see our Match sponsors Ardwall Farms Ltd and the McCulloch family in attendance at Cally we are grateful to them – and, indeed, ALL our Match Sponsors this season.
Druce and Somarajan opened the bowling and some good batting early on by openers Ranjit and Yould showed why the game was far from won.
Before Druce struck in bang-bang-bang fashion to claim three top order, top quality batters in fine style – the third, to dismiss visiting skipper Rajmohan, taken at forward mid-off by Naylor a stunner! This was a catylist – and enabled first change bowler Domanic to rip through the middle and late order EKCC batters, again, in fine style – his quick, nippy, skiddy bowling perfectly suiting the drying wicket. Domanic finished with remarkable figures of 5-10.
All that was left was time for spin – and spin-twins Marsay and Bradley finished things off with a wicket apiece, one a fine-stumping to remove Swanevelder and the final wicket to Marsay bowling the last man to achieve success for the club on the day.
Galloway CC – 199ao: Somarajan 101, Domanic 43, Bradley 12
East Kilbride CC – 74 ao: Druce 3-19, Domanic 5-10
The GCC team enjoyed this win – and rightly so!
Man of the match was awarded jointly to centurion Somarajan and five-for Domanic.
A splendid way to finish the home league season. Our thanks again to helpers, especially groundsman John Goodenough our match sponsors Ardwall Farms/McCulloch family – and thanks to our Club Sponsor The Galloway Lodge