12/06/2026
🤩SIX FROM SIX AS CLACKMANNAN CRUISE PAST BROOMHALL🤩
Clackmannan County First XI welcomed Broomhall to The Arns on Saturday, 6 June, with threatening rain clouds failing to interrupt play. Clackmannan captain Blair Campbell won his fourth consecutive toss and elected to bat first on the Arns wicket.
Openers Tariq Mehboob (sponsored by Sports Markings Scotland Ltd) and David McConchie (sponsored by uGym) found scoring difficult early on, with the pitch offering little pace and some inconsistent bounce. The pair put on 26 for the first wicket before Mehboob (15) was caught off the bowling of Balmiki while attempting to increase the scoring rate.
Graham Oliver, returning to the side, looked assured despite the challenging conditions.
McConchie (19) was bowled by Breen with the score on 48, and Oliver (14) followed shortly afterwards, leaving Clackmannan at 56-3 after 20 overs.
A***n Gates (sponsored by Kevin Bryce Plumbing Heating & Gas) and Sai Daddolu (sponsored by Stallions Cricket) then came together at the crease with the task of rebuilding the innings and setting a competitive total.
Showing patience and composure, the pair gradually took control, combining intelligent strike rotation with well-timed boundary hitting to guide the score beyond 100.
Young Australian Gates, who has impressed with the bat in recent weeks, accelerated the scoring with elegant strokeplay and sharp running between the wickets. Given a reprieve after being dropped in his twenties, he made Broomhall pay for the missed opportunity.
At the other end, Daddolu continued his excellent form, striking three sixes and demonstrating why he has been one of Clackmannan’s standout performers this season.
The pair dominated the middle and latter stages of the innings, steering Clackmannan towards the 200 mark. Daddolu brought up his third score of fifty or more this season before eventually falling for an excellent 83, caught while attempting another big hit off the bowling of Ramsay. Gates soon followed after completing a well-deserved maiden half-century for the Wee County, departing for 55 after being caught off Hoefling.
With four overs remaining and the score at 202-5, captain Blair Campbell (sponsored by IKL Care) and Kayne Nicholson (sponsored by Roy & McIntyre Funeral Home) looked to add valuable late runs. Campbell (2) was run out by his opposite number while attempting to regain the strike after driving to mid-off.
Nicholson (7*) and Tom Hutchison (0*, sponsored by Bee Happy Nutrition) ran hard between the wickets in the closing overs as Clackmannan finished on a strong 211-6 from their allotted 40 overs.
Following the tea interval, Clackmannan took to the field knowing there was still work to do to convert a promising position into victory.
Opening bowlers Rizwan Ashraf (sponsored by SM Decorating.)and Ali Arshad (sponsored by Barrel Built Designs) immediately applied pressure with disciplined and accurate bowling.
The breakthrough came when Ashraf bowled opener Hynd for 3. The pair then struck twice in quick succession, Arshad first holding a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Breen (1), before Ashraf removed Hoefling (2), brilliantly caught by Oliver in the slips.
At 12-3 after eight overs, Broomhall were under severe pressure.
Visiting captain Scott Lucas and former Clackmannan player Neil Ramsay attempted to rebuild the innings, prompting Campbell to introduce spin through Tariq Mehboob and A***n Gates on a surface offering increasing turn.
Mehboob proved particularly effective, bowling the well-set Lucas for 19 before having Ramsay (7) caught by Ashraf at gully. Broomhall’s resistance quickly unravelled as wickets fell regularly, reducing the visitors to 38-8.
David McConchie ran out Newman (0), Gates had Robertson (0) caught by Oliver in the slips, and Mehboob trapped A. Kumar (1) lbw as Clackmannan tightened their grip on the contest.
The victory was secured in the 22nd over when confusion between S. Kumar and Balmiki (6*) led to a run out. Kumar drove to mid-off and set off for a single, but hesitation between the batters allowed McConchie and Nicholson to complete the dismissal and seal a commanding 164-run victory for the home side.
The standout bowling performances came from Tariq Mehboob (3-7), Rizwan Ashraf (2-6), A***n Gates (1-5) and Ali Arshad (1-20). In the field, David McConchie contributed to two run-outs, while Graham Oliver held two excellent catches in the slips.
The result makes it six wins from six matches for the Wee County, who remain top of the table and continue to impress in Division 2 of the Strathmore and Perthshire Cricket Union.
Clackmannan now turn their attention to a top-of-the-table clash away to Freuchie on Saturday, 13 June.
The match is scheduled to be live-streamed on Freuchie Cricket Club’s YouTube channel from 12pm.
Match Ball Sponsor: MKM Building Supplies
