EK outdone by 5484 first class runs...

Uddingston 105-7 (20 overs)
East Kilbride 102-8 (20 0vers)
Uddingston win by 3 runs.

Uddingston captain Bryan Clarke had no hesitation in choosing to bat on another flat looking wicket at Bothwell Castle Policies after winning the toss, as the Villagers looked to put their Lanarkshire rivals under pressure from the start.
Allan MacLeod and Aamir Gul opened for the home side, with Gul playing the more aggressive role before Macleod (8) edged a Stewart Kampman delivery to the EK keeper with the score on 29. This brought Uddy pro Rasika Priyardashana to the crease and together with Aamir he built a solid partnership before the opener took one risk too many and was stumped by Craig Smith. Ras continued in good form though, scoring quickly, especially through his favourite midwicket area. Clarke (2), McKenzie (2) and Bawa (0) all came and went cheaply as they searched for quick runs, but the Pro continued to keep the strike well and ran quickly, especially with Anthony Ilyas, to take the score to 90 with 2 overs remaining. Former Scotland spinner Ross Lyons was the pick of the visitors’ bowling attack, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs from his 5 overs in the middle of the innings. Once Ilyas (5) departed, Run Out, Ryan Wood (1) was sent in to show some of the striking ability he has shown in practice, but he departed after only 3 ball, leaving Andrew Baxter (1) to partner Priyardashana to the end of the innings, the Sri Lankan ending with 46 from 42 balls, as Uddy set a target of 106 to win for East Kilbride. This target was at least 20 below par, paying testament to some tight bowling along with some poor batting, and might have been even lower had Priyardashana not been dropped twice in his innings.

Priyardashana proved to be the star of the second innings also as his mixture of swing and seam movement proved deadly. EK captain Harmajit Singh (0) opened with Lyons but Singh was soon on his way, LBW to a ball that came back into him. Lyons (1) followed soon after, to a sharp delivery which seemed to swing first in before seaming away and overseas player Peter Bocock (4) followed soon afterwards, LBW again. Stewart Kampman was playing the anchor role for the visitors, but lacked a partner as McKenzie took care of Smith (8) dangerously playing back to a ball down the slope and Gul ran through Talpur (5) and Richardson (4), both stumped by Clarke. Tom Richards came to the crease and built what looked to be the winning partnership for EK, as they needed less than a run a ball from the last 3 overs. Kampman (46) had played well, especially through the covers, but with 6 needed from the last over, he edged Gul behind and Clarke took the catch. Gavin Meikle came in to be the hero for his side, but Gul’s tight line left him unable to take more than a single from the remaining 3 balls, ending just 3 runs short.
Both sides had opportunities to win the match, with Uddingston taking their chances in the end, but East Kilbride will probably rue allowing the home pro a second and third chance.