CLYDESDALE'S under-19s once again proved they are the kings of indoor cricket when they stormed to the most comprehensive of victories in the finals of the Brunton Miller West District competition between Christmas and the New Year.
This year's heroes were Johnny McKay, who seems set to become one of the Titwood club's unexpected graduates into the first team this soming summer, and 17-year-old Patrick Barbour, a four-square batsman who rarely lets you down.
After the prelim
inary rounds, Clydesdale faced neighbours Poloc and Prestwick in the final round-robin. Against the Shawholm boys, Andrew Scobie's team racked up an imposing 127 in their ten overs, with Barbour scoring 38 not out, Shreyas Chitnis 31 and Lyle Hill 29, before good bowling and fielding constricted the reply to just 56.
Prestwick elected to bat first in the final game, but were destroyed by the superior Clydesdale bowling and fielding. By the end of McKay's first over, three runs had been scored and four wickets had fallen, two of them run-outs. Prestwick were all out for just 19 within five overs, McKay conceding only five runs while taking four of the wickets.
In reply, Clydesdale took just 12 balls to win the game without losing a wicket - and their sixth title in as many years. Barbour remained not out, this time for 13, to pick up the Player-of-the-Tournament award after scoring 97 runs in total.
Earlier, under-15 cup holders Clydesdale had also reached the closing stage of their tournament, but lost a thrilling final to Ferguslie after their top four batsmen were clean bowled with scarcely a run on the board. The remaining Titwood players managed to scramble to a creditable total of 83, Haris Chaudhry top-scoring with 33.
But Ferguslie completed a fine victory by seven wickets in the penultimate over of the game.
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