Ferguslie Cricket Club kept their cool in scorching conditions to retain the Rowan Cup with a scintillating performance.
On the hottest day in the UK ever recorded, the heat was turned up in Paisley as Ferguslie took on Clydesdale for the silverware, hoping to repeat the final feat after beating Prestwick last year at Whitehaugh.
Ferguslie won the toss and elected to bat first, getting off to a quick start with David Stafford hitting a rapid 18.
However, a bad couple of overs saw three quick wickets fall reducing Ferguslie to 59 for four.
Taimoor Ahmad was joined by captain Haroon Tahir and they built the total well, with opener Ahmad making a strong 40 and Tahir a well struck 33 off just 28 balls.
It wasn’t the total the home team would have wanted, but crucially it solid enough to give them something to defend.
Ferguslie made a great start, reducing Clydesdale to nine for two.
However, Young and Jawad progressed the visitors total well and at 97 for four with five overs left the game looked in their hands.
But with Ferguslie youngster Qasim Kahn then removing both players, the home team sensed their opportunity.
Only Sajjad offered any real resistance as Clydesdale struggled and Ferguslie picked up wickets at regular intervals at the other end.
The game ended when Tahir, who bowled four overs taking two wickets for 18 runs, took responsibility for the last over with only seven runs to play with.
He took two wickets and secured a run out, conceding only one run as the Paisley side reclaimed the trophy.
A club spokesperson said: “This was an excellent win for the team who stuck in superbly when Clydesdale looked to be in the driving seat.
“Superb batting from Taimoor Ahmad provided the backbone for the total, who was very well supported by our 20/20 captain Haroon Tahir.
“Tahir then provided some tight bowling with two vital contributions.
“Sixteen-year-old Qasim Khan bowled his three overs taking three wickets for just nines runs, which was excellent, with Tahir’s two wickets and match-winning last over that made the difference in the end.”
Disappointingly, last Saturday’s league game against fourth place Dumfries was unable to be completed due to significant rainfall.
Dumfries had won the toss and put Ferguslie into bat.
In a reduced over game (38 overs each) because of the weather, the home team were 162/6 after 39.3 overs (Moses 55 and Stafford 41) when the game was abandoned.
Ferguslie’s second side was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Next Saturday, the first team are at home to third place West of Scotland in a crucial game at the top of the table as both teams try to keep up their title push.
The second team meanwhile are away at Partick.
On Sunday July 31, the second team play the final of the 20/20 Western Cup against Titwood (Clydesdale) at Prestwick.
