Ferguslie lose out to storming Stenny

Ferguslie Cricket Club travelled to Stenhousemuir hoping to open their Western Premiership One campaign with a win on Saturday.

- BILLELLIOT

However, the Paisley side ran into the equivalent of Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar at one end and Virat Kohli at the other as Stenny stormed to a 138-run victory.

The result was achieved courtesy of two whirlwinds in the shape of batters Yaseen Valli and Zander Smith who combined to put on 209 for the hosts’ third wicket and blow the game out of the reach of Ferguslie.

Bowling first, Ferguslie opened with promise as both Mo Mayet and Ettiene Jewell beating the bat regularly; the former claiming an early victim with the score only on nine as Qasim Khan pocketed a good catch.

And, at 34, the hosts were two down as newcomer Jewell picked up his first competitive wicket with skipper Taimoor Ahmad plucking the ball out of the air.

However, that was the cue for Stenny’s two South African batters, Valli (126) and Smith (100), coming together in the middle and working to devastating effect.