In the Western Premier Reserve league match at Nunholm against Partick the elements arrived in the second innings to intervene in a rain affected match.

Nunholm batted first and Partick bowler Simon Brown enticed three early errors, including Davie Davidson caught behind after some sumptuous boundaries for a score of seventeen, to leave Nunholm on 35 for 3.

Adam Elliot and Chris McCutcheon then delivered the substantial partnership of the innings putting on well over fifty at a rate of four an over. Elliott produced boundaries on the off side and McCutcheon got into his stride later in his innings hitting straight for one particularly big six.

That partnership was broken, with the score at 86 for 3 in the 22nd over, when McCutcheon was beaten by one that turned and was bowled for a score of 36.

It was to be a day when batsmen contrived ways to be out and spinner Amarnath benefitted with a skied catch to cover in his first over. Elliot shared partnerships with Campbell Potts and Jeremy Bradshaw with the latter pairing taking the score gradually up to 130 in the face of an all spin attack from Amarnath and Chris Brown.

However the ball after a fine square drive of the back foot Bradshaw was caught behind off Chris Brown. That placed Nunholm on 130 for 6 with twelve overs remaining. With no addition to the score Elliot followed for an important innings of 37, bowled by Amarnath, and he also promptly took another wicket caught and bowled.

After another wicket fell in the same fashion it was left to Peter Johnstone and Andrew Kyle to squeeze out some more runs for the last wicket. They reached the 150 mark but then Kyle was bowled for Simon Brown’s fourth wicket.

Nunholm got off to the start they wanted with Singh hitting the stumps in his first over. With McCutcheon and Singh bowling well batsmen Ewing and Farndale had only reached 19 for 1 after ten overs. Then a catch behind off McCutcheon wasn’t taken to remove Ewing when runs and wickets down were to be an important factor in the final result.

It remained a batting wicket with a fast outfield and Ewing was able to accelerate the scoring rate with boundaries. With the score on 60 a run out dismissed Farndale and then keeper Potts took a catch off Irwin to make it 65 for 3.

The clouds were looming and with twenty overs completed the match would have a result. Partick were ahead of the required total at that point but not if Nunholm could take another couple of wickets.

However that did not transpire as heavy rain started twenty minutes later than forecast by the Met Office and after 26 overs had been bowled. When the players ran for cover Ewing was 41 not out in a total of 86 for 3 and Partick were 19 runs ahead of the required target.

The rain was set and that ended the game with Partick taking the win under the Duckworth/Lewis rules for a truncated match. Chris McCutcheon took the JKC Engineering Man of the Match for Nunholm.

This Saturday, in the Western Premier Reserve League, Dumfries 2nd XI play Langloan at Nunholm.

Western Premier Reserve League
Nunholm lost to Partick by 7 wickets (D/L). At Nunholm.
Match ball sponsored by R.F Angus
Nunholm 150 all out (44.2 overs)
A Elliott 37, C MCutcheon 36;
S Brown 8.2 overs 4/17, P Amarnath 10 overs 4/22
Partick 86/3 (26 overs) (ahead of D/L Par score of 67/3 by 19 runs)
J Graham 41no;
C McCutcheon 7 overs 0/18, G Singh 8 overs 1/26
D Davidson 6 overs 0/14, M Irwin 5 overs 1/15
JKC Engineering Nunholm Man of the Match: C McCutcheon
Umpire: K Snow