13 August 2017
Title hopes dented
Defeat on Saturday away to Clydesdale ended Ayr’s slim hope of Western Union glory. In a match reduced to 45 overs after early morning rain, Ayr batted first and struggled to 153-9, Andi McElnea continuing his good run of form to top score with 44. In reply Clydesdale were never in any real trouble despite Scott McElnea claiming the early wicket of the dangerous Awais for one, reaching their target without losing any further wickets.
Title hopes dented
Defeat on Saturday away to Clydesdale ended Ayr’s slim hope of Western Union glory. In a match reduced to 45 overs after early morning rain, Ayr batted first and struggled to 153-9, Andi McElnea continuing his good run of form to top score with 44. In reply Clydesdale were never in any real trouble despite Scott McElnea claiming the early wicket of the dangerous Awais for one, reaching their target without losing any further wickets.
9 August 2017
McCulloch Cup Victory
After last weeks disappointment of losing to local rivals Prestwick in the league Ayr bounced back on Wednesday night to claim their first silverware of the season when they beat Poloc at Bothwell Policies in the McCulloch Cup Final. Ayr won the toss, batted first and got off to a solid start with Papps and Smith (36) putting on fifty for the first wicket, before both fell in quick succession. On their departure, the run rate slowed and wickets started to fall regularly, but the innings was held together by Shujja Khan (32no) as they finished on 118-8 in their twenty overs. The Poloc innings started off on a similar vain to Ayr’s with the openers putting on fifty for the first wicket before Andi McElnea and his spin colleagues, Callum Leck and Michael Papps started to make inroads into the Poloc batting with some tight, accurate bowling, slowing down the run rate and eventually leaving them on 102-9, needing 17 of the last over for victory with their last pair at the wicket, and off the second ball an excellent throw from the deep by Matt Crawshaw saw Lewis James run out, as Poloc fell 15 runs short of their target. McElnea finishing with figures of 3-12 and two wickets each for Papps and Leck.
McCulloch Cup Victory
After last weeks disappointment of losing to local rivals Prestwick in the league Ayr bounced back on Wednesday night to claim their first silverware of the season when they beat Poloc at Bothwell Policies in the McCulloch Cup Final. Ayr won the toss, batted first and got off to a solid start with Papps and Smith (36) putting on fifty for the first wicket, before both fell in quick succession. On their departure, the run rate slowed and wickets started to fall regularly, but the innings was held together by Shujja Khan (32no) as they finished on 118-8 in their twenty overs. The Poloc innings started off on a similar vain to Ayr’s with the openers putting on fifty for the first wicket before Andi McElnea and his spin colleagues, Callum Leck and Michael Papps started to make inroads into the Poloc batting with some tight, accurate bowling, slowing down the run rate and eventually leaving them on 102-9, needing 17 of the last over for victory with their last pair at the wicket, and off the second ball an excellent throw from the deep by Matt Crawshaw saw Lewis James run out, as Poloc fell 15 runs short of their target. McElnea finishing with figures of 3-12 and two wickets each for Papps and Leck.
5 August 2017
Prestwick win Local derby
After their heroics on Thursday evening when they qualified for the McCulloch Cup Final, Ayr came back to earth on Saturday as they lost ground in their quest for the Western Union title to local rivals Prestwick who defeated them at Cambusdoon by 43 runs. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first but were soon in trouble as Scott McElnea removed openers Rafiq and Jawad with only three on the board and and he struck shortly after to remove Luke Smith before Sachin Chaudry and Ross Patterson went about rebuilding the innings, Chaudry cementing the innings with an excellent 108 as they finished on 227 in their 50 overs. The Ayr reply got off to an equally shaky start with the in form openers Smith and Papps falling early leaving Andi McElnea (61) and Shujja Khan (45) to do the rebuilding, putting on a century stand for the third wicket. But with the required run rate increasing wickets started to fall and they were bowled out for 184.
Prestwick win Local derby
After their heroics on Thursday evening when they qualified for the McCulloch Cup Final, Ayr came back to earth on Saturday as they lost ground in their quest for the Western Union title to local rivals Prestwick who defeated them at Cambusdoon by 43 runs. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first but were soon in trouble as Scott McElnea removed openers Rafiq and Jawad with only three on the board and and he struck shortly after to remove Luke Smith before Sachin Chaudry and Ross Patterson went about rebuilding the innings, Chaudry cementing the innings with an excellent 108 as they finished on 227 in their 50 overs. The Ayr reply got off to an equally shaky start with the in form openers Smith and Papps falling early leaving Andi McElnea (61) and Shujja Khan (45) to do the rebuilding, putting on a century stand for the third wicket. But with the required run rate increasing wickets started to fall and they were bowled out for 184.
3 August 2017
Papps and McEnlea guide Ayr to Final
On Thursday night, the McCulloch Cup Semi Final eventually took place at the fourth time of asking, having been abandoned the previous day because of rain, with Ferguslie batting first and being restricted to 123-4 thanks to some tight, accurate bowling and good ground fielding. After the early loss of Neil Smith, Ayr timed their run chase perfectly, with Michael Papps (68no) and Andi McElnea (36 no) rotating the strike well and punishing any poor balls as they won with more than two overs to spare.
Papps and McEnlea guide Ayr to Final
On Thursday night, the McCulloch Cup Semi Final eventually took place at the fourth time of asking, having been abandoned the previous day because of rain, with Ferguslie batting first and being restricted to 123-4 thanks to some tight, accurate bowling and good ground fielding. After the early loss of Neil Smith, Ayr timed their run chase perfectly, with Michael Papps (68no) and Andi McElnea (36 no) rotating the strike well and punishing any poor balls as they won with more than two overs to spare.
10 June 2017
Ayr cruise to victory over Clydesdale
Ayr produced a clinical performance on Saturday as they recorded a ten wicket victory at home to last years league winners Clydesdale. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first but were soon in trouble as Scott McElnea struck early removing the dangerous Awais with only nine on the board. Along with his brother and captain Andi, the McElnea’s continued to claim wickets at regular intervals bowling them out for 115. Andi finishing with figures of 4-20 and Scott 4-26. In reply Ayr were never troubled as openers Neil Smith (35no) and Michael Papps (75no) continued their good early season form to record an emphatic ten wicket victory with more than twenty overs to spare.
Ayr cruise to victory over Clydesdale
Ayr produced a clinical performance on Saturday as they recorded a ten wicket victory at home to last years league winners Clydesdale. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first but were soon in trouble as Scott McElnea struck early removing the dangerous Awais with only nine on the board. Along with his brother and captain Andi, the McElnea’s continued to claim wickets at regular intervals bowling them out for 115. Andi finishing with figures of 4-20 and Scott 4-26. In reply Ayr were never troubled as openers Neil Smith (35no) and Michael Papps (75no) continued their good early season form to record an emphatic ten wicket victory with more than twenty overs to spare.
