Cricket: Nothing bubbly as West of Scotland are handed a hiding by Dunfermline

Jul 22 2010 By Matthew Leslie

Stewart Leggatt

CHAMPAGNE shots took the fizz out of our play claims West of Scotland secretary Jim Young after a dire display saw them thrashed by Dunfermline.

The Partick side have had a tough time of it this season following last year's fine campaign but this seven wicket defeat must surely be one of the worst in living memory as they were skittled for a paltry 78.

Only Neil Bisman (25) and Gregg Watson (12) managed to reach double figures as a combination of poor shot selection and - it must be stated - good bowling from Dunfermline saw them crash to defeat and second-bottom of the table.

Due to league reconstruction, there is no relegation this season but even so, the abject displays are giving pause for thought.

Young said: "The wicket was damp due to the weather which made the ball swing a bit but even so, had we not played some champagne shots and put in some graft at the crease we could have set ourselves up with a chance.

"I believe 150 on that wicket would've been enough but we shot ourselves in the foot."

Elsewhere, Clydesdale had no batting troubles as Omer Hussain's superb knock of 117 saw them defeat Aberdeenshire by 31 runs.

Meanwhile in DivisionTwo, Poloc again crashed to defeat with a batting display as bad as West's as a poor 99 all out saw them lose by eight wickets at Stirling County.