THEY started the week reflecting on a humiliating Scottish Cup exit at the hands of minnows Meigle and ended it sitting proudly atop the Western Premier table.
Life at Uddingston CC is rarely predictable!
The same could be said of the Bothwell team’s clash with Prestwick at the Henry Thow Oval before the Ayrshiremen were finally condemned to a first defeat of the season.
Chasing 228, Prestwick had the match in their grasp when skipper Shazad Rafiq stroked a fine 98 and Sachin Choudhary added 40.
However, the visiting bowlers stuck to their task admirably to claim wickets at vital stages and Prestwick still needed six runs from the final over with their last pair at the crease.
The batsmen scrambled two off Allan Laycock’s first delivery but the bowler then had his revenge, throwing down the stumps as they attempted a quick single off the next ball.
It was a dramatic denouement to an enthralling encounter and Uddy skipper Bryan Clarke revealed: “It was a great direct hit from Laycock to finish the game.
“He was the coolest man on the park!”
Earlier, Uddingston produced a gutsy batting performance to claw their way to 227-7 against a fairly miserly home attack for whom Gavin Pitt’s ten overs included six maidens.
Amir Gul anchored proceedings with a typically pugnacious 72no while Anwar Hafeez (36) and Gavin Bradley (31) lent stout support.
They provided the platform for Ross Lyons to produce a late flourish with 44, allowing the visitors to post what proved to be a winning total.
It might not have been, though, had Lyons not made another telling contribution to remove Rafiq two runs short of a century.
Lyons also effected a run-out with a remarkable direct hit from the boundary while Gul also had a part to play with the ball, claiming two wickets, before Laycock provided the final act.
Clarke added: “It was a real team effort. Amir’s had a tough start to the season but was typically gutsy and there were also excellent contributions from from Hafeez and Gavin before Ross put the gloss on it.
“Although we bowled solidly Prestwick batted well and looked as though they'd take it away from us.
“But we've a bit of character and dug deep.
“I’m delighted for the guys because it’s been a really hard week. We were pretty despondent after Meigle but we worked hard to make sure we were ready for today.
“This is a very competitive league - the top half are evenly matched which should make for a pretty interesting season.”
A look at the table bears out Clarke’s point with the top five separated by just three points.
Poloc also lost their unbeaten record, the Shawholm side going down by five wickets in a free-scoring affair at Cambusdoon.
Jurie Snyman’s 89 helped Poloc post 267-7 but his effort was trumped by Michael Papps whose 95, coupled with half-centuries from Andi McElnea and Neil Smith, eased Ayr home with three balls to spare.
Ferguslie sparked their challenge with a thrilling win over Clydesdale in a reduced overs clash at Titwood.
Dale’s 133-5 from 24 overs might well have been defendable if skipper Con de Lange had been able to participate in the second half of the match.
In the event, the delayed start meant that de Lange had to make a dash to the airport for his flight south to lead Scotland against Sri Lanka yesterday.
Even without de Lange, Clydesdale were in pole position when the Meikleriggs men collapsed to 15-4.
However, Riyaad Henry’s 51 and 58no from Dave Stafford carried them to a remarkable five-wicket success.
Clydesdale spokesman Colin Mitchell said: “A departure after six following the usual lunchtime start would have been less painful than half-time in a shortened game.
“But we’re not complaining – our young side will have learned plenty from the experience and Stafford was outstanding. We are also grateful to Ferguslie for allowing us a 12th man after Con left.”
Runs were at a premium at Whitehaugh where Greenock recorded their first win back in the top flight – but by the narrowest of margins.
Having dismissed the Paisley side for just 68, the Glenpark team won with their final pair in the middle.