On the day Switzerland clinched Eurovision with a public vote of 226, Galloway bounced back well from an unpromising position to leave themselves a target of 226 by taking the last seven Mearns wickets for only 48 runs.
Sadly, with the exception of one partnership that yielded all but 25 runs of their total, the Galloway batting lacked any boom bang-a-bang and they met their Waterloo by 139 runs.
Crucially skipper John Goodenough lost the toss at Hamilton Palace, where the weather was more reminiscent of Hamilton in Bermuda than Lanarkshire. Inevitably Mearns chose to bat. All of the bowlers used stuck to their task well, and only one ended wicketless.
Akhil Sudhi removed home skipper Haldar LBW for 22, before a match-defining stand of 85 in which Hudar and Kambhampati both scored fifties. It contained all kinds of everything, though regularly the ball went airborne into gaps without any apparent control. Two chances that did go to hand were put down.
Eventually Mearns kept finding Mein on the leg side boundary, where he saved many runs and held two great catches. Goodenough took one at mid off, before Alex McMenemy seized one at point to remove the top scorer and start the collapse from 177-3.
Pick of the bowlers Rasel Mia hit the stumps towards the end of his spell and earned two LBWs, and the innings ended with another two. Quite a rarity for an opposition to give half their teammates out leg before!
The energy-sapping heat contributed to a lacklustre Galloway innings, though the importance of making your mind up led to the first wicket. Simon Mein was run out by a direct hit from fine leg to the bowler’s end after a slight hesitation.
Alex was bowled via his pad, and all the remaining wickets fell to catches. Having slumped to eight for three, Galloway tried to rise like a phoenix with a fine partnership of 61 between Akhil and Bappy, who both hit a six.
Once the latter was out to a return catch there was to be no fairytale or euphoria, only teardrops. The only other partnership to reach double figures was between Andy and Mackenzie Sharples with ten for the last wicket.
The positives from this match were the way in which Galloway regained control as the Mearns innings progressed, holding most of the catches offered, Simon’s fielding, the bowling of Rasel and Arif, and the all-round performances of Akhil and Bappy.
We thank our opposition Mearns for playing in a good spirit, including supplying much appreciated food and water, and to our shirt sponsors Galloway Lodge.
Mearns 225 (44.5 overs) R Mia 3-36, A Ullah 2-29, S Rabby 2-48, A Sudhi 2-57, A McMenemy 1-12
Galloway 1st XI 86 (28.5 overs) A Sudhi 34, S Rabby 15