Dumfries away – it’s always hot. Thankfully, stand-in skipper Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat on a good-looking wicket. This was a mixed XI even though it was a 1st XI fixture. So the opportunity was there for some of the juniors to stand up to the plate. Saif and Ryan opened. It started well with two fours from Saif of the first two balls. Saif was adjudged out LBW to a dubious one.Azhar arrived at the crease and before he started Ryan chipped one to mid-wicket. This brought in Ahmed at four. Azhar and Ahmed put on 30 in 4 overs and were it not for another LBW decision against Azhar (14) the partnership was looking ominous. Alas it was cut short. Steven came in next and along with Ahmed they put on the most crucial and as it turned out match-winning partnership of 96 in 20 overs. Steven batted with grace and provided great support to Ahmed. Ahmed made an excellent hundred getting to the three figures with a lofted four over cover. Ahmed’s hundred included 15 fours all of which were played effortlessly. Steven was caught and bowled by Bellwood for 33 when the score was 142 after 26.5 overs. Steven batted superbly and hit 4 fours. Liam was in next and he put on 40 with Ahmed for the 5th wicket. Liam was out for a quick 15, after that with six overs to go Renfrew lost 4 wickets for 29 runs. Renfrew finished on 211 for 9.

The pick of the Dumfries bowlers were the amateur P Lojszczyk (5 for 57 from 10 overs), C Bellwood (2 for 35 from 7 overs) and T Griffiths (2 for 14 from 5 overs).

It was a great start to the Renfrew bowling innings with Anil getting one and Taral Khasiya taking 3 wickets up front. Dumfries were 27 for 4 after 8.5 overs. Taral bowled with great accuracy and got the ball to seam away and then sharply in to the batsmen. He picked up 2 bowled and 1 LBW. When Saif was brought on the 12th over and he bowled the Professional T Griffiths top of middle stump the writing seemed on the wall for an emphatic Renfrew victory. However C Bellwood and A Davidson had other ideas and they went about chasing the 7.5 and over run rate. They put on 62 and it was getting close to the wire until Ahmed brought himself on and took 4 wickets. Crucially the two in form batsmen were 2 of his victims. The match was over after Bellwood was ninth out with the score on 173. The last wicket added no further runs and Dumfries ended their innings on 173 after 35.2 overs.

The team fielded and bowled with discipline and this bodes well for the future. The highlight of the teams victory was obviously the exceptional hundred by Ahmed with able support by Stevie. Ahmed topped of his performance with 4 for 33 from 8 overs with one maiden.

The stand out bowler was Taral Khasiya with figures up front of 6 overs, 3 maidens, 14 runs and 3 wickets. His last two balls went for fours. The three maidens were consecutive wicket maidens.

Renfrew progress to the Semi – Final to held at the Deanpark Oval. The opponents will be local rivals Ferguslie. The date for the tie is Sunday 11th August.