27 June 1991
Victory over Clydesdale sets up derby Rowan Cup Final
The Final of the Rowan Cup will take place at Cambusdoon next on 4th July and will feature Ayr and Prestwick.
The local derby was set up by last week's semi-finals, in which Ayr beat Clydesdale and Prestwick accounted for Kilmarnock, both sides winning with ease.
In Ayr's clash with Western Union rivals Clydesdale, the home side batted first and made 144-2, with Ainsley Bagnall scoring an unbeaten 67 and Damien Greenall also unbeaten on 40 at the close.
Chasing that total proved beyond 'Dale who collapsed to 75 all out in the face of a spell of 5-31 from Andy Baird, well supported by Kiwi import Colin Maunder who took 4-39.
Victory over Clydesdale sets up derby Rowan Cup Final
The Final of the Rowan Cup will take place at Cambusdoon next on 4th July and will feature Ayr and Prestwick.
The local derby was set up by last week's semi-finals, in which Ayr beat Clydesdale and Prestwick accounted for Kilmarnock, both sides winning with ease.
In Ayr's clash with Western Union rivals Clydesdale, the home side batted first and made 144-2, with Ainsley Bagnall scoring an unbeaten 67 and Damien Greenall also unbeaten on 40 at the close.
Chasing that total proved beyond 'Dale who collapsed to 75 all out in the face of a spell of 5-31 from Andy Baird, well supported by Kiwi import Colin Maunder who took 4-39.
8 June 1991
Ayr Throw it Away
It took a bizarre incident to separate the D M Hall Western Union leaders, Clydesdale and Ayr at Titwood.
With their last pair at the wicket, Clydesdale needed three runs from the last two balls of the game for a nail-biting victory. The penultimate ball from Andrew Baird was missed by Richard Young, but Mike Howard backing up smartly ran a bye to wicket-keeper Neil Small. Small's reaction was instant as he hurled the ball to the bowler standing a mere four yards from the wicket at the non-striker's end, but in attempting to throw down the wicket and run out Young, he missed and the batsmen were able to complete the three runs needed for victory from the overthrow.
It was a cruel blow to an Ayr side which had fought back from an unpromising total of 163 and at least deserved a share of the points. Ayr had in fact threatened a larger total, especially when Damian Greenall and Douglas Johnstone, returning after injury problems were in. Greenall especially showed scant respect for the pace attack, driving with style and power on his way to 44, but was undone by the medium pace of Richard Rutnagur, edging an away swinger to slip. From 83-2, Ayr subsided against Russell and Rutnagar, each of whom claimed five wickets.
The leaders did not find life easy either. Some fine slip catching by Johnstone had them tottering at 124-6, with only Bruce Russell and Ian Stanger showing any sign of getting on top of the bowling of Grant Stanley and Andrew Baird.
When Russell went to Johnstone's third catch, it was left to Stanger and David James to keep Clydesdale in the game. Stanger reached a brave half-century, but soon after was narrowly run out and with Baird snapping up three wickets in his last three overs it was that final fatal throw which gave the home team the win.
Ayr Throw it Away
It took a bizarre incident to separate the D M Hall Western Union leaders, Clydesdale and Ayr at Titwood.
With their last pair at the wicket, Clydesdale needed three runs from the last two balls of the game for a nail-biting victory. The penultimate ball from Andrew Baird was missed by Richard Young, but Mike Howard backing up smartly ran a bye to wicket-keeper Neil Small. Small's reaction was instant as he hurled the ball to the bowler standing a mere four yards from the wicket at the non-striker's end, but in attempting to throw down the wicket and run out Young, he missed and the batsmen were able to complete the three runs needed for victory from the overthrow.
It was a cruel blow to an Ayr side which had fought back from an unpromising total of 163 and at least deserved a share of the points. Ayr had in fact threatened a larger total, especially when Damian Greenall and Douglas Johnstone, returning after injury problems were in. Greenall especially showed scant respect for the pace attack, driving with style and power on his way to 44, but was undone by the medium pace of Richard Rutnagur, edging an away swinger to slip. From 83-2, Ayr subsided against Russell and Rutnagar, each of whom claimed five wickets.
The leaders did not find life easy either. Some fine slip catching by Johnstone had them tottering at 124-6, with only Bruce Russell and Ian Stanger showing any sign of getting on top of the bowling of Grant Stanley and Andrew Baird.
When Russell went to Johnstone's third catch, it was left to Stanger and David James to keep Clydesdale in the game. Stanger reached a brave half-century, but soon after was narrowly run out and with Baird snapping up three wickets in his last three overs it was that final fatal throw which gave the home team the win.
