SCOTT McELNEA took two early wickets to put Ayr on their way to a 35-run win away to league leaders Clydesdale on Saturday – setting the Cambusdoon men up for a tilt at the Western Premiership’s only unbeaten team, Drumpellier, this weekend.

Batting first, Ayr openers Flack and English put on 48 for the first wicket at Titwood, though that partnership proved to be the highest of the match; once they departed, wickets started to fall at regular intervals, with no-one able to get over 20 except for the extras column, the generosity of the Clydesdale bowlers donating 35 to the Ayr total in wides as the visitors were bowled out for 146.

The Clydesdale innings got off to a shocker as McElnea, not for the first time in his career, claimed two early wickets to leave their hosts at 4-2 before Koteeswaran and Cook began the rescue act.

Ayr professional Derval Green, back bowling after having been injured for a few weeks, then had Koteeswaran caught behind by Mikey Miller before the left arm spinners, Hamza Tahir and Jonny Baines, got into the act, each claiming three as they dismissed Clydesdale for 111, Baines finishing with figures of three for 15, Tahir 3-24 and McElnea 3-28.

Ayr got their McCulloch Cup campaign back on track with victory away to Kilmarnock. Having already lost three matches to the weather, and been beaten by Prestwick in the only match they had completed, they were sitting bottom of the south group with two matches still to play, but the victory moved them back up second place, to give them hope of qualification to the quarter-finals with a victory in next week’s final group game against Irvine.

At Kilmarnock they won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a more than respectable total of 158-7 from their 20 overs. Saturday’s batting heroes Michael English (29) and Scott McElnea (36) were again in the runs, with young Jake Woodhouse top scoring with 39 and Haza Tahir chipping in with a useful 21 as he put on 57 with McElnea for the fifth wicket.

The Kilmarnock innings got off to a bright start before Tahir and English claimed three quick wickets to leave the hosts on 47-3; thereafter the Ayr bowlers were always on top, keeping the run rate well below that required as Kilmarnock finished on 130-8 thanks to a late cameo from Ranjit Singh (42), leaving Ayr winners by 28 runs.

The Cambusdoon XI played host to Whitehaugh in what will be the shortest match of the season, with Nari Bhandari clean bowling Willie Allan with the first ball of the game; it also turned out to be the only ball of the season, with the rain, which had fallen heavily overnight, returning to end proceedings for the day.

On Tuesday night, Cambusdoon got off to a terrible start in the Western Cup at home to St Ninian’s, losing their first five wickets with only 11 on the board, before recovering to a total of 74-9 from their 20 overs, Jonny Baines top scoring with 40 not out.

Unfortunately, it was all in vain as St Ninian’s raced to their target for the loss of only one wicket in only 13 overs, Fraser MacDonald who top scored with 37. Ross Kennedy finishing on 25 not out.

This weekend sees Ayr at home to league leaders Drumpellier on Saturday and away to Arbroath in their re-scheduled Scottish Cup tie. On Wednesday night they are also away to Irvine in their final section game in the McCulloch Cup.

The Cambusdoon XI have a black week in both the Western Union Championship and the Western Cup.