Falkland Defeat Rivals Freuchie

Falkland – 251 for 5 (40 overs)
(L. Robertson 80no, St Meikle 52, E Sloan 46, G. Watson 35)
(J Wallace 2 for 46)

Freuchie 91 for 8 (all out – 2 batsmen absent)
(I Stonebridge 30)
(L Briggs 3 for 3, A Hamilton 2 for 12, B Morris 1 for 17, G Chambers 1 for 17)

Falkland beat Freuchie by 160 runs

Freuchie captain Ian Stonebridge won the toss and inserted Falkland on a firm wicket with no rain forecast, (for once). Cameron Nellies fell early to the bowling of Cowan which brought Euan Sloan to the crease to join Graeme Watson. The pair batted steadily to see off the opening bowlers before increasing the scoring rate after the changes were made. Both fell within 3 balls having put together a partnership of 85 in 17 overs.

Stuart Campbell was a little unlucky to be caught for 5 but the partnership that followed between Lyle Robertson and Steven Meikle eventually realised 115 at around 10 an over. Steven eventually fell for 52 with Lyle finishing on 80 not out from just 55 deliveries.
Freuchie were a little unlucky given that Graham Christie pulled up after only 1 over and the 7 overs made up from the 3 who made up the 5th bowler went for 77.

After a socially distanced tea, Freuchie came out to bat and made a steady start until losing the wicket of Callum Cook runout by some sharp work from Stuart Campbell. Young Ben Morris replaced Ryan Hepburn and bowled 5 good overs, (1 for 17). Losing a 3rd wicket when Stuart Campbell took a sharp catch at slip off the bowling of Greg Chambers - who finished with 1 for 17 from an excellent spell of 7 overs – made it difficult for the home side to match the acceleration that Falkland had managed.

The depth of Falkland’s bowling resources was illustrated when Alan Hamilton was the 5th bowler used and Logan Briggs the 6th. Runs were very hard to come by as these two bowled well in tandem. Alan finished with 2 for 12 from 5 overs, including another very sharp slip catch, this time from Stookie. Logan finished with 3 for 3 from 3.2 overs to close the innings on 91 with 2 absentee batsmen not helping the run chase.
In the end, the winning margin of 160 runs was comfortable. Another very pleasing aspect was that only 2 wides were bowled in the 27.2 overs of the Freuchie innings.

David Chambers