There’ll be a brand new identify inscribed on one of probably the most well-known trophies in Scottish cricket on Sunday, when the one hundredth anniversary Rowan Cup remaining is performed between GHK and Prestwick at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow.
The match began in 1923, 100 years in the past, with Uddingston lifting the silverware, and since then collaborating golf equipment from throughout the west of Scotland have been eager to get their palms on the trophy.
GHK and Prestwick have by no means gained the occasion as but – although Glasgow Excessive Faculty FP’s gained it in 1963 – so Sunday’s match carries further significance on this historic competitors.
“We at GHK Cricket Membership are delighted to have reached the Rowan Cup remaining and may’t wait to contest this match towards Prestwick,” Khizar Ali, GHK president, stated.
“We couldn’t have achieved our wins over Helensburgh, Ferguslie, West of Scotland and Langside with out the mix of youthful exuberance from the likes of Zainullah and Basit Sultan and the wily expertise of Azeem ‘Thunder’ Akbar, Farzan ‘Fizzy’ Dar and GHK’s participant or the season to date, Harris ‘Harry’ Majeed. That’s simply to call just a few – we’ve got had key contributions from most of the group.
“But maybe our greatest contributor has come from off the pitch as our nice supporters have given the group an immense enhance in every of the video games at essential moments.
“It’s been nice to witness native cricket matches performed with such a fervent help on the sidelines. We hope to once more have our loud and enthusiastic supporters in attendance on the remaining.
“It’s no shock that within the remaining we’re up towards one of many WDCU’s most adorned golf equipment in Prestwick. They’ve really needed to beat groups from everywhere in the west of Scotland with wins over Stirling, Ayr, Dumfries and Uddingston, and we sit up for pitting ourselves towards them within the remaining that might be performed with the spirit of cricket in thoughts.”
Ali mentions the cup runs that each golf equipment have had – in Wednesday’s semi-final, GHK comprehensively dismantled Langside, bowling their opponents out for 66 after which knocking the run chase with ease for the lack of simply three wickets.
Prestwick made it by way of to the final 4 on July 12, once they posted a really spectacular 157-5 versus Tunnock’s Uddingston of their semi-final, earlier than proscribing their opponents to 138-9.
Sachin Chaudhary, the Prestwick captain, stated: “We have now by no means gained the Rowan Cup regardless of attending to the finals thrice. The entire membership is trying ahead to collaborating within the remaining this 12 months, particularly as it’s the one hundredth 12 months of the Cup.
“We have now a brand-new group this 12 months with many of the gamers enjoying for the primary time within the Rowan Cup, subsequently reaching the ultimate is kind of an achievement for them and nicely deserved.
“As a group the cricket we’ve got performed over the previous few months has been fairly spectacular, and the quantity of labor the boys have put in on the nets in coaching and at each recreation is outstanding and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
“I might additionally like to say one thing about our opponents GHK who’ve performed admirably this season and have put within the exhausting work to earn their place within the remaining.
“This dedication has made them a formidable group and it must be a really fascinating and shut remaining.”
Richard Younger, who gained the Rowan Cup twice in 1985 and 1988 with Clydesdale, defined the significance of the origins of this nice competitors.
“Again in 1922, it was determined by the folks of the Western Union {that a} competitors may maybe be organised for charity and fund elevating within the aftermath of the Nice Warfare.
“After discussions, a chap named Rowan agreed to place up a trophy and a committee was arrange for the competitors to begin in 1923, to be performed by 10 Western Union golf equipment and quite a lot of invited golf equipment.
“It was all about elevating cash to go to battle widows and hospitals, in addition to getting groups enjoying cricket midweek and serving to the neighborhood, as a result of quite a lot of golf equipment had folded or have been struggling post-war.
“Now 100 years on you wouldn’t consider it could nonetheless be ongoing and it’s simply incredible – it’s the premier Cup competitors within the West.”
The ultimate on Sunday is because of begin at 1pm.
