Tunnock's Uddingston Cricket Club

Buttman's trademark Buttscoop may have been the talking point of the game during yesterday's post match celebration beers, but Ras' all round performance signalled promising times ahead for Uddy.

Ras, the Sri Lankan pro, has so far endured a torrid time this season, but as the pitches firm up, the elegant strokeplayer looks set to finally cash in.

Uddy lost the toss and were asked to bat by Dumfries. Uddy got off to a flying start, with Paul Hoffmann's strike rate reaching an incredible 200. Hoffmann hit the first ball for a boundary through cover, but unfortunately perished the next ball to Iain Stewart for an entertaining 4 off 2 balls.

Allan MacLeod was also cleaned up by Iain Stewart. According to MacLeod, Stewy cut one back at least 2 feet before it crashed into the stumps. When Seabird lobbed a simple catch to short mid wicket off, Uddy were about 5 for 3 off 10 overs.

It was a disastrous start, one which had Jim Lockhart pacing angrily around the Nunholm boundary rope. Luckily for Uddy, Calum MacLeod and Ras steadied the ship and fought back with some aggressive shots to all parts of the oval. Calum was out to a left arm spinner, caught at cover for a well compiled 28.

Ras continued to blast the Dumfries bowlers, with the highlight being a massive whooshka over long on that went 110 metres. Breebs came out and hit a couple of sweet looking boundaries before departing. That allowed newcomer Jaya, who had previously played for Dunfermline, to join Ras at the crease. The two Sri Lankan master blasters put on a vital 74 run partnership, before Ras was finally out caught at long on off the Dumfries leggie.

However, Ras's dismissal signalled the arrival of crowd favourite Andrew Baxter. He took no time in getting out the Buttscoop off Iain Stewart's bowling, caressing the ball to the fine leg boundary to the delight of the Baxter fan club. Unfortunately, he was out the next ball, LBW to Stewy who took his third wicket of the match.

Jaya continued to swing hard, getting a vital 20 odd as he helped Uddy get a respectable 189 off their allocated 40 overs.

Calum chose to give the new ball duties to the Bawa brothers and they strangled the Dumfries openers with a fine display of line and length seam bowling. Senior brother Sandy took the first wicket, catching the Dumfries opening batsman plumb in front. Suddenly, after 8 overs, Dumfries were on the backfoot and the run rate was climbing fast.

Calum MacLeod bought himself into the attack from the pavilion end. He produced a swing bowling display that rivaled anything that James Anderson has produced this summer against the Windies. The Uddy skipper took 3 vital wickets and kept Uddy in the driving seat.

The dismissal of Dumfries' best player, Josh Geary, virtually wrapped up the game for Uddy. Geary, who moosed an unbeaten 130 against Ayr the previous week, tried to pull MacLeod into the bigyard but hit it straight down the throat of Dennis Eyles. Eyles is quikly establishing himself as having the second safest pair of hands in the club, after Baxter.

Dumfries veteran David Davidson stood firm at the end with an unbeaten half century, but the home side fell well short of Uddy's total. Uddy bowlers were all outstanding. Uddy now go into next weeks game against Ayr full of confidence. The game is at Bothwell Castle Policies.

Summary

Match rating: 6/10
Man of the match: Ras
Shot of the match: The Buttscoop off Stewy.
Fastest ball of the match: Calum MacLeod 81.4mph (3rd ball in his first over)
Fastest bat speed: 281mph Ras (ball went for 6).