After winning the toss, stand in skipper Ross Lyons chose to bat first. When Mo Awais got off to a typically violent start smashing 19 off 13 balls, Lyons’ decision seemed a good one. However, when Awais was caught at slip, an avalanche of wickets fell and at the end of the 40th over, Uddingston were dismissed for just 111 leaving long time supporter Michael Devers shaking his head in disappointment.

Anwar Hafeez was the Villagers mainstay with the bat, scoring a composed 48. Big hitting all rounder Abdul Sabri threatened, but was needlessly run out on 16, while Derek Allan elegantly stroked eight valuable runs, described by Graeme Robertson as the “best eight he’s ever seen”.

With tea taken early, Lyons warned his bowlers not to gorge themselves on caramel wafers and teacakes, because he knew potential lethargy in the field could spell disaster when trying to defend such a modest total.

“I saw spectators and some of our players salivating when they saw the smorgasbord of specials laid out by The First Lady. I had to shirt front a few of them (players) in the queue and tell them to take it easy during the break. I didn’t want them going back out with their bellies like a cement mixer, gurgling a mix of teacakes and red cordials. I wanted them to sidestep the sweets and make a beeline for the bananas. It worked,” explained Lyons.

Well, whatever Niall Alexander devoured during tea (pasta - ed) supplied him with the perfect tonic for a match winning performance with the new ball. Alexander (4-19) ripped through the heart of Ferguslie’s top order, getting bounce and movement bowling from the Bawa end. Ferguslie’s batsmen had no answer to Alexander’s skill and after four of them had knicked off to the excellent Sam Allan, Uddingston’s supporters began popping their corks prematurely.

A partnership between Rhyiad Henry and Omer Hussain briefly threatened to spoil the BCP party, but Aamir Gul (3-31) had the latter brilliantly stumped by Sam Allan. Henry, meanwhile, did his best to guide the Paisley men home, but when he spooned a Ross Lyons (3-12) delivery to that man Alexander at point, it was all over bar the shouting. With their hard fought win, Uddingston remain on top of the Western District Cricket Union Premier Division.

In the fixture between Bothwell (Uddy 2s) and Meikleriggs, Ryan Dunne’s career best 146 wasn’t enough to piggy back Bothwell to victory, falling just 10 short of their 306 target in a modern day cricketing classic in Paisley.

Next week, Uddingston are away to Stirling County, while Bothwell are at home to Stirling 2s.