Greenock Cricket Club Supporters

The 1st XI travel to Stirling on Saturday to take on Mearns on New Williamfield's number 2 pitch, knowing that a win will guarantee another season in Western Premiership Two. Sounds simple with Mearns currently bottom of the table but the Glasgow side know that a win for them will turn the tables on the 1st XI and therefore they too will be a primed for a strong performance. Last week's fine win at Helensburgh should give Toby Matthews' team all the confidence for this crucial game and they will know that the whole club is behind them.

The Glenpark XI are at home on Saturday to Hamilton Crescent, the third eleven of West of Scotland, full of confidence after last week's fine win over Anniesland and looking to end their season on a high after what has been a difficult summer.

Sunday's Sunday League game with Mearns Masters has had to be cancelled due to essential works to the ground that need to be carried out on the day.

Today, Glenpark plays host to the Western Cup final between Renfrew and Victoria with play due to start at 1pm. This will be a keenly contested match.

The 1st XI took a huge step to retaining their place in the Western Premiership Two league when they decisively defeated Helensburgh by 7 wickets. Set 103 to win after bowling out Helensburgh for 102, their batsmen made no mistake this week with Adam McGuirk leading the way with a well-crafted half-century. This win, coupled with defeat for Mearns means that the team are now in 8th place in the league and once again in charge of their destiny.

To cap an excellent day for the club, the Glenpark XI finally won a league game when they defeated Anniesland by 4 wickets. The Glasgow side batted first and scored 155 before being dismissed. They were helped to that score by the Glenpark bowlers conceding a ridiculous 47 wides but at least they were able to bowl out the opposition with Moiz Mansoor taking 3 for 30 and Thapa and Ronnie Singh both taking 2 wickets. The Glenpark batting was up to the task of chasing down that total, reaching 156 for 6 in the 34th over. Mahmood Ahmadzai (44), Zabiullah Dilsoz (34*) and Rokhan Safi (30) were the top scorers as the team deservedly won the game.

More sad news.

We lost another old friend on Monday when Scott's and Inverclyde stalwart Jim Murphy passed away. I personally knew Jim since 1975 when, as a precocious 14 year old, I played for Jim at Scott's, as did many other players who went on to feature for Greenock.

As well as playing, Jim also took an active role in umpiring and was part of the WDCU administration which keeps our game alive in the west.

Jim made a point of umpiring all of our pre-season friendlies at Glenpark and I enjoyed the banter and his somewhat dry outlook on all things cricket (and beyond).

Our game needs people like Jim and he will be very sadly missed by everyone that knew him. Rest easy old chum and please take the extended time you now have available to properly study the LBW laws.

Brian Lang.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Brian Lang, Honorary Vice-President and a long-standing and loyal member of the Club. In a 1st XI career spanning 1960 to 1976, Brian scored 4606 runs and took 117 catches. He captained the team for part of the 1970 season and again in 1973 and 1974. After his retirement, he maintained a keen interest in the Club and attended Glenpark when he could. His latter years were dogged with ill-health but he handled this with great fortitude and maintained his spirit to the very end. He truly was one of the good guys and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our sincere condolences go to Lynn and his family. Funeral details will be published when known.

The 1st XI's position was significantly worsened on Saturday when they lost to Hillhead by 29 runs. The visitors were put into bat and when they were reduced to 57 for 5 and then 122 for 8, the 1st XI were on top but they allowed Hillhead to reach 175 before being dismissed. Chirag Pandher with 5 for 33 was the most successful bowler but the concession of 35 wides by the bowlers together with these 53 runs from the tail-enders, would prove crucial.

Jamie Nowell (38) and Pandher (39) put on 60 for the first wicket in reply and when the score reached 131 for 3 there looked to be only one winner. But an astonishing collapse with last 7 wickets falling for just 15 runs as the last six batsmen scored just one run between them saw Hillhead grab the vital victory and place the 1st XI in a perilous position.

The Glenpark XI were well beaten by Hillhead 2nd XI in Glasgow. Choosing to bat first they were reduced to 23 for 7 before an 8th wicket stand of 49 between Moiz Mansoor (26) and Peter Hempsey (17) brought some respectability before the last wicket fell at 86. Hillhead had little difficulty in knocking off the runs, losing just 2 wickets in the process.

The Senior XI defeated Stenhousemuir on Sunday to bring a little light to the gloom that has descended on the Club.

The 1st XI face Hillhead at Glenpark on Saturday in the first of three games that will decide their fate in this year's league campaign. Quite simply, they must defeat Hillhead or hopes of avoiding relegation will be very much reduced. Hillhead, of course, will have the same aim which suggests that this will be a nervy encounter. Good luck to Toby and his team which should have the services of club coach and legend, Tom Black, in their ranks as they seek the all-important win. The game begins at the usual time of 12 noon and will be streamed live on the Club's new Youtube channel .

The Glenpark XI travel to Glasgow on Saturday to play Hillhead 2nd XI looking once more for their first league win of the season.

On Sunday, Glenpark sees the Senior XI take on Stenhousemuir in the Senior League, the game starting at 1pm. It can also be viewed on our Youtube channel.

Today's rearranged home League match between Glenpark and Albert Park has been cancelled due to the heavy rain.

The 1st XI knew that they would be in for a tough match at Kilmarnock and so it proved. Put into bat, the batsmen struggled to shrug off the stronghold that the Kilmarnock bowlers imposed on them and they were bowled out for 109. Kilmarnock wasted little time in knocking off the runs, as the weather threatened to halt the game, but the 1st XI bowlers did manage to take 5 wickets and pick up 3 bonus points, which might prove crucial at the end of the season. Results in the other games did not harm the team's prospects although Hillhead have closed the gap on the teams above them. All to play for in the last three games of the season.

When the Glenpark XI bowled out Mearns Challengers for just 102, hopes were high that they might record their first league win of the season. Hamidullah Safi took 3 for 24 and Thapa, Kumar and Moiz Mansoor all bowled tight spells. Unfortunately, the batting line-up could not follow up this fine bowling, and with skipper Eddie Ahmad unable to bat, they were dismissed for just 67, losing by 45 runs.

The 1st XI are away on Saturday to league leaders Kilmarnock, a tough task as they battle to keep their place in Western Premiership Two. With matches against their three relegation rivals after this game, anything that they can get from this match will be most welcome.

The Glenpark XI have two league fixtures this weekend, both at Glenpark. Saturday's visitors are Mearns Challengers while on Sunday, Albert Park are the team's opponents. The team will be hoping that at least one of these games brings a first league win of the season.