Cricket
SINCE 2006, Big Dunc has made it into the 90s three times without making over three figures.
Last Saturday he finally achieved this, batting the full 40 overs for his 103 against Carleton.
Sadly, this did not secure victory. The visitors chased down Langholm’s 191 for the loss of only two wickets.
Langholm were put into bat and made a positive start. Duncan Elliott and James Price added 45 in nine overs.
The partnership was broken by what can be described as a wonder catch off Campbell’s bowling when a Price drive was snatched on its way to the boundary by a diving Shaun McDermott, dismissing him for 18.
With the introduction of slow bowlers Tickner and Cuneen into the attack, runs became difficult to score and, at drinks, Langholm found themselves 67 for 1 off 20.
Tony Steele fell for 15 in the 25th over to another McDermott catch off Cuneen’s bowling, with Langholm 82 for 2.
This brought Big Nick Piszczykiewicz to the crease and, as expected, the run rate increased.
Langholm passed 100, with Elliott passing 50. The pair somehow stayed in because Carleton somehow dropped at least 10 catches, some of them absolute dollies.
With one over to go, Elliott was on 97. He took a single off the first ball and Nicky did the same with the second.
Then the moment came; Elliott struck two to complete his first 100. It’s been a long time since he was a boy scoring 42 not out in his debut as a 15-year-old in 1995 for the seconds.
Funnily enough, it was against Hawksdale which, after moving grounds, became Carleton.
Langholm finished the 40 overs without the loss of another wicket on 191. Elliott was on 103 not out and Nicky 40 not out.
Langholm got off to a fantastic start when Davie Gordon, at mid-on, took a catch off Tony Steele’s bowling to dismiss the dangerous McDermott for 0 in the first over.
This was a false dawn. Greig and Smith added 170 for the second wicket which ultimately secured victory for the visitors.
Greig was out for 81 to a Jay Gordon catch off Paisley.
The win was secured when Carleton skipper Alex Smith hit a four in the 34th over, finishing on 81.
In the end, it was a disappointing result for Langholm after scoring 191.
It’s not often only four wickets fall in the day at the Castleholm. Victory would have made Elliott’s 100 so much sweeter.