HERIOTS PIP CLYDESDALE IN SCOTTISH CUP THRILLER
Heriot's completed a men's cup double as they edged out Clydesdale in a Scottish Cup Final for the ages on Sunday.
Defending an under-par total of 158, Heriot's bowling attack heaped pressure on their opponents, who eventually succumbed to fall short by four runs in the final over at Arbroath.
Needing nine to win from the final two overs with two wickets in hand, Clydesdale looked to be favourites to retain the trophy that they won in dramatic style a year ago at Uddingston. However the game turned on a wonderful catch made by Dougie Voas in the deep to dismiss Luke Fischer-Keogh (23), before Zeeshan Bashir was bowled by Josh Elliott (3-30) with two balls remaining to spark wild celebrations amongst the Heriot's supporters.
The result sees Heriot's win the Scottish Cup for the seventh time, and regain the trophy they won in 2024, and a fourth cup title in three seasons.
Having won the toss, Clydesdale perhaps surprisingly chose to bowl first on what appeared to be a classic excellent Lochlands wicket in the sunshine, but they made an early breakthrough as Voas edged Ravi Alavala behind for a duck.
The Heriot's batters struggled to grasp the pace of the pitch, but they had settled into the game well and captain Vian Maritz built a confident partnership with Peter Ross. At 79-3 they looked well set to push for a total in excess of 200, before a calamitous mixup saw Maritz run out for 29.
Ross looked at ease, hitting three massive sixes in his well-paced innings off 55, but he kept losing partners and in an attempt to push on he was stumped just after the drinks break by Fischer-Keogh off Bashir.
The Heriot's innings folded after that, and they were bowled out for 158 in just 36.3 overs, Alavala finishing with 3-30 and Sahir Hussain 3-29.
The Clydesdale innings began strongly as they moved to 38 without loss, but the introduction of Elliott's spin broke the game open as he dismissed Wasim Quereshi and Rafay Khan in the same over.
U19 international batter Ali Khan (37) was holding the innings together as Clydesdale crawled towards their target, but the spin trio of Elliott, Ryan Brown (3-29) and James Dickinson (2-31) applied consistent pressure as the Glasgow men became increasingly bogged down.
Khan's resistance ended as he tamely chipped Brown to short mid-on, but Rashmika Hewawasam (31) and captain Kallum Dhami continued to slowly push Clydesdale forward to 117-4, just 41 runs short of the target. Their departure in quick succession opened the door to Heriot's once again, who backed up the tight bowling with some outstanding fielding.
As overs ticked away, the run-rate began to climb for Clydesdale, and a sense of desperation appeared to enter the minds of the lower order. Fischer-Keogh was the one player who looked to be positive and push back on the pressure, striking three boundaries to edge the defending champions closer.
As the evening drew in and shadows crept across the ground, the tension rose amongst the sizeable Clydesdale support, who had been buoyant through the day, and Fischer-Keogh's dismissal saw them fall silent. They were left disappointed with the dramatic finale which unfolded as Heriot's ultimately were rewarded for holding their nerve.