JUST like the big game in the East End of Glasgow, Saturday's cricket

match of the day in the D M Hall Western Union failed to provide a

winner. What it did find, though, was an odds-on favourite for the

championship.

Greenock took the better of the draw against nearest rivals West of

Scotland at Glenpark, and now only need to do the same against

Drumpellier next weekend to capture the title.

However, it should have been a very different story entering the final

chapter. Not for the first time this season, the Hamilton Crescent side

managed to draw a match it looked easier to win.

With 10 overs remaining, Jon Williams' side needed just four an over

with six wickets remaining, a stance from which to win game, and almost

certainly the title.

By the close, West's last pair of Angus Montgomery and Mark Gilchrist

were left to hold out for draw points.

Batting first, the home side totalled 182 for nine, a score built

entirely around the innings of Tom Black. Coming in when the first

wicket fell at 17, 'TB' cut loose on the West bowling, and hammered his

way to a glorious 108 off just 126 balls, with eleven boundaries and two

6s, both off Gilchrist, before being eighth out with the score on 167.

Incidentally, pro for the day Atul Wassan was next highest scorer, with

20.

Chasing, West found themselves 15 for two when Sajid Ali joined up

with Mike McDonnell. They turned the game around in the visitors'

favour, quickly taking the score on to 92 with the Pakistani in full

flow with 44 from 64 deliveries.

But the next ball, Sajid went for the big one, only to be spectaculary

picked off at deep cover by David Thomson.

That catch swung the match again. The visiting batting then crumbled,

and although McDonnell went on to make a very good 50, there was never

any real support for him down the order.

Kilmarnock were the only side to take win points, the bowling of

Gregor Cunningham (5-49) and Ricky Toussaint, who in addition to making

70 also captured four wickets, defeating Uddingston.

The strangest happenings were at Whitehaugh, where Kelburne spinner

Javed Ashraf showed his disgust at not being given a bowl, by walking

out halfway through their game against Poloc. Kelburne though, held on

for the draw.