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MID ARGYLL Cricket Club traveled to the Stirlingshire village of Gargunnock last Sunday in their last full match of the season. After some recent poor weather, sun greeted the players for this 40 overs per side match.
Gargunnock won the toss and elected to bat. However, with some cloud cover the Mid Argyll openers managed to get some swing from the moderately overcast conditions, which created difficulties for the Gargunnock batsmen. Robin Finlay took two quick wickets; with catches taken by Josh Battle and Matt Lewis. This left Gargunnock on 3 for 2. So a good start! The home side rallied but they found the then found the father and son partnership of Peter Shackleton and Angus Shackleton in fine form as they both took a couple of wickets. So 39 for 6 and Gargunnock were looking at small total.
Unfortunately, the clouds rolled back to produce a nice late summer’s day and as a result batting became easier.
Steady batting by the middle order, especially Stuart Bailey 26 and Winston Smith 15 ensured the scoreboard moved towards three figures. However, Mid Argyll continued to take wickets through Robert Davies and Matt Lewis but Everett (28) and Shaw (22) punished the Mid Argyll side as the home side concluded their innings on 149.
Mid Argyll started their innings well. Openers Matt Lewis and Gordon Lyburn looked solid to all the bowling they faced. However, with the score on 44, Lewis was caught in two minds and he prodded a straight delivery to square leg. Lewis’s contribution was 22. Peter Shackleton joined Lyburn at the crease and he soon set about the Gargunnock attack, as runs came from parts of the ground. The score continued to climb and this pair soon reached their century partnership. However, with the score on 148, Shackleton mistimed a shot to mid off. Shackleton’s contribution was a season’s best, 61.
So a great victory for Mid Argyll to conclude their season. Overall, the weather was probably the biggest winner with nearly half the matches postponed. Next season, there is a return to Dunadd where a new wicket and outfield have been prepared.
Practice will continue throughout the autumn and winter on Tuesday evenings at the new Sports Centre.
Scores: Gargunnock 149 (M Everett 28, S Bailey 26, R Davies 3-12, A Shackleton 3-40)
Mid Argyll 150 for 2 (P Shackleton 61, G Lyburn 37 not out)
Mid Argyll won by wickets.
