Innellan vs. Oban

The last weekend of May saw Oban visit the Castle.Oban won the toss and put Innellan in the field, this seemed a good toss to lose as Innellan’s bowlers were soon dominant, taking 2 early wickets for only 10 runs. Brief partnerships of 26 then 17 flattered to deceive as Oban passed the 50, Clark shuffled his 9 bowlers but they produced a show of such miserliness -  not seen since Oliver Twist was in short trousers.

None of the home attack went for more than 3 runs an over and none for more than 14 runs in total as the visitors were skittled for 83 with 3 of the 40 overs remaining.

Innellan, in reply, shuffled the pack once more – Marshall jnr and Gilles in the opening positions. The plan, if there was one, went awry when the former departed for 5 with the score on 10, MacKellar came and went for a second ball duck and Szymczak hit a quickfire 10 before being adjudged lbw, at this point Innellan were 25 for three. Gilles departed next with 32 on the tins, but a job well done with his 14. Henry R, did not add to the score and was returned to the pavilion as the 2^nd duck of the day. Henry G and Captain Clark took centre stage and changed the game completely taking the score from 32 to 61 in 5 overs. Game over.

Captain Marvel cruised to victory with an unbeaten 38 including 1 six and 6 fours, Innellan reaching the desired total with 19 overs to spare.

Last weekend saw the prize fixture against Greenock at Glenpark washed out so this weekend Innellan make their annual trip to Yorkshire in search of good weather, good cricket and Theakston’s Old Peculiar!!   

Innellan vs. Cairndow

Innellan and Cairndow took the field at Castle Toward last weekend to open the 2007 cricket season. This is usually a keenly contested affair, and this one proved to be no different.

In this week of elections and winning the toss Innellan chose the green option and elected to field. There was success in the second over when Lyburn was adjudged caught behind by the returning officer off the bowling of R. Henry for a duck. Innellan struck again 2 overs later when Tierney lost his deposit for the same score, Cairndow 9 for 2. There followed a stand of 40 between Innellan reject Chris Dalby and Jamie Pope, but Innellan’s tight bowling ensured that 17 overs were used up in the process. Pope resigned his position via Johnston knocking over his stumps. There was no white smoke to announce his replacement Nelson, (‘Nelson’ is a term in cricket which heralds the score of 111, and multiples thereof), this Nelson added the three ones together and departed for exactly that, 3, playing on to his stumps giving Henry his third wicket. Dalby continued his campaign trail and was at his composed best, defending anything on the stumps and  punishing anything wide or short from the Innellan attack, on his way to a finely constructed 50. Young Angus Shackelton took the crease and on debut,  played some excellent strokes in front of and behind the wicket, and even stole the strike from Dalby on a few occasions, before he was caught behind, the ‘weekeeper’ and Johnston’s second respectively. Innellan had used 8 bowlers in short spells and on his debut,Luke Szymczak had given little away in his first session, and it was he who removed Gray with a well taken return catch, also scoreless. Shackleton, the senior, joined Dalby and the pair saw off the final overs without further loss. Dalby having a superb knock and carried his bat, ( batting from start of innings to finish), for 54. Cairndow 105 for 6 off the allotted 40 overs.

Innellan began their pursuit of the total with McKissock and Johnston. Tierney removed  the former from office with a grubber, first ball. MacKellar formed a short alliance with Johnston but departed to the same bowler for 4, Innellan 5 for 2.

Szymcak and Johnston then began to put together a useful partnership which produced 21 runs before the debutant hit a skyer, Tierney taking the steepling catch. R Henry then added 29 with Johnston, who had begun to open his shoulders and had the Cairndow  campaigners chasing the ball all over the ward on his way to a match saving 44 including 2 fours and 2 sixes, before becoming Tierney’s next victim. But his parties run rate was much enhanced by his contribution and the home side were ahead in the polls for victory. This brought G. Henry to join his much less attractive brother at the crease to face their father Tom, a more distinguished version of his offspring, (guesting for the opposition – or turncoat, depending on how you see it!). Henry snr, showed that his training with the Marine Reserves in despatching Mills bombs came in handy as he bowled 5 overs for only 12 runs, his two weans glad to see the back of him. Dalby bowled Gilles and Innellan were 82 for 6 but with 14 overs in hand.

Tierney spoiled Henry.G’s ballot paper with a 0 instead of a X, to become the 5^th duck of the day and give the bowler a ‘Michelle’, ( five for).

Enter the old campaigners Clark, the captain, and Marshall his predecessor, no strangers to the despatch box, these two blocked, knurdled, cut, pulled and drove all further questions asked by the opposition to take Innellan to victory, and remain undefeated, with nearly six overs to spare. A fine start of season match for both teams, from which both can draw positives.

Mention must be made of Ross and James Gray who sub fielded for Cairndow all afternoon, their appearance at winter nets and enthusiasm to learn the game of cricket given their young age is a pleasure to witness.

Innellan vs. Mid Argyll

Innellan took on Mid Argyll at Castle Toward last Sunday in distinctly autumnal weather conditions.

The great WG Grace offered advice on winning the toss before a match … ‘on winning the toss, bat first, if in doubt, consider, then bat first!’.

 So, Captain Clark won the toss for the second week in a row and again, elected to field. Queer cove, Johnny Captain!

His decision seemed to come back to haunt him as Argyll put on an opening partnership of 91, although Innellan’s bowlers only bowled three overs a spell given the conditions, Dupre-Smith and Henry.G. unplayable in the early skirmishes, but Dunn (well and truly),Wright (not quite), Johnston,and Gilles came in for some punishment all going at around 5 an over, the luckless Walker suffered a withering assault and was relieved of further punishment after 24 came from 2 overs. It took Henry.R, Robin not Regent, to split the partnership, Henry.G. taking the catch. Dupre-Smith and Henry.G. returned to good effect and slowed Argyll’s momentum, Smudge giving away only another 6 runs in his 8 overs. His ‘oppo’ had Lister caught behind then removed Barrett,clean bowled and Turner for a duck in consecutive balls, his brother returning the earlier compliment with a catch, unluckily the hat-trick evaded him but his final analysis of 3 for 6 off 8 overs an outstanding effort.

Argyll’s fortunes faded as they lost wickets with regularity. The strolling player Nelson, managed 3 less than last week and was caught behind off Henry.R. A run out and Johnston taking Phare’s castle left Argyll on 133 for 8.A fine recovery by the home side given the initial partnership

This rain interrupted match saw Johnston and MacKellar open the innings for Innellan, but only 18 were on the tins when Barrat removed the junior partner. Henry.R then produced a majestic innings of 32 with 7 fours, one of which, a jaw dropping leg side flick – timing at its purest,  and a stand of 54. Johnston fell 11 runs later for 22 and Walker was adjudged plumb in front, lbw, adding 8 to the total. If Henry G’s bowling was a dream to watch, his batting was as good, 30 runs coming from his blade including 2 sixes and 3 fours, this took Innellan to 103 for 5. Dupre-Smith managed only a brace and Clark just 5, Gilles a single leaving Wright, on debut, and Dunn with 12 runs for victory. Nervy singles and a two were exchanged between the pair before it proved to be all Wright on the night as the newcomer scored the winning boundary securing victory for Innellan.

A cracking match despite the conditions and hooray for the Henrys’!!