Scottish Cricket: Ruthless Shahid fires Heriot's to top (19 May 1998)

Tuesday, May 19, 1998

Scottish Cricket: Ruthless Shahid fires Heriot's to top

By Keith Graham

A SUPERB bowling performance by Shahid Aslam helped Heriot's to a six-wicket victory over Dunfermline and joint top place in the Conference A table.

The Pakistani medium pacer sent eight of the home batsmen back to the pavilion for just 12 runs. Six of his victims were bowled - three of them as part of a hat-trick - as Dunfermline subsided to 31 all out.

The only other 100 per cent record is held by Aberdeenshire, in Conference C, after their hard-earned victory over Stirling County at Williamfield.

Stirling, put in by the visitors, got off to an excellent start with their captain, Jon Taylor, reaching 47 before he straight drove Kevin Thomson only to see the ball ricochet from the bat of non-striker Harivinda Sodhi and lob back into the hands of the bowlers. A brisk 31 from youngster Stuart Campbell saw Stirling to 158 for eight in 52 overs but when Aberdeenshire batted, the youngster, fielding at short leg, took a blow in the throat and had to be taken to hospital, returning only late on in the innings to resume his place in the field.

It was Australian amateur Garth Nottle who turned the game Aberdeenshire's way with a forceful 45. However, one further incident was to sour the game when a clear chance was offered to one of the Aberdeenshire players, on as a substitute for Campbell, but he made no effort to catch the ball. The player was immediately asked to leave the field by Taylor.

West of Scotland surrendered their perfect record in Conference B at Langloan when Drumpellier's last pair held on to force an unlikely draw. West lost the services of Jason Arnberger with a shoulder injury before the season began but in Corey Richards they have clearly acquired another Australian with as keen a hunger for runs. With the help of 19 fours and three sixes, the opener amassed an unbeaten 167 in a total of 263 for five and although Craig Wright bowled splendidly to take five for 27 Drumpellier just held out. The Scotland all-rounder completed a good weekend's work by scoring a century in a group cup match on Sunday.

A second century of the season from Pakistani player Mohammed Ramzan laid the foundation for Poloc's win over previously unbeaten Carlton and Stoneywood Dyce were also surprisingly beaten at Falkland. GHK's Zahid Ahmed hit 117 to lead his side to a convincing win against Forfarshire.

Clydesdale's Ian Stanger, who has been called into the Scottish side this week at Lord's in place of the injured David Cowan, responded with an unbeaten 39 and three wickets as the Titwood side overcame strongly fancied Ayr in Conference C. Ferguslie's Allan Burgess took six for 23 as the Paisley team strolled to a six wicket victory over Edinburgy Ackies and an unbeaten 75 from Andre Percival saw Greenock to victory over Uddingston.

Scotland's cricket selectors have suffered a blow with the news that recent bowling recruit, James Brinkley, will be playing for Essex today.

Brinkley, who made a huge impact during Scotland's recent Benson & Hedges Cup campaign, was due to spearhead their attack in a two-day fixture against MCC starting at Lord's today.

Instead, Essex, who have been tracking Brinkley since his departure from Worcetershire last summer, have handed him the chance to earn a long-term contract by giving him his debut in an AXA League match against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)