Season 2010 started well for the 1st XI. In a pre season friendly against National League dropouts Prestwick, new EK skipper Umair Saeed won the toss and in favourable conditions elected to bowl first. A good result was vital here in order to take some momentum into the campaign for promotion, due to start next week.

With a team missing a few first team regulars, Arjun Lalli, Gareth Kelly and David Jack were the juniors/2nd XI players called up to the 1st XI as cover.

Stewart Kampman shared the new ball with Tom Richards and they bowled well and frugally with Kampman being unlucky not to have a wicket very early on, a straight forward edge being dropped by Joel Richardson at slip. After this opening spell, the captain brought himself on in a double change which saw Khalid come on from the other end. The pair bowled very well, with Khalid bowling very economically and taking a wicket. However, it was the skipper that stole the show, taking magical figures of 6.1-0-19-5 over the course of short spells of bowling. Between these spells, the guile filled off spin of Matthew Kellet and the nagging leg breaks of Joel Richardson succeeded not only in keeping the opposition tied down but also taking two wickets a piece to effectively break any Prestwick resistance in the middle overs. In the end, after 39.1 overs, Prestwick were bowled all out for a below par 154.

In order to make sure that the author cannot be accused of talking only of the positives in the EK performance, it is worth noting that 154 is far more than they should have had but for some early season sloppy fielding from nameless people. No less than 6 catches were grassed! You know who you are!

After the tea break, East Kilbride began their chase. Kampman opening with Richardson. Unfortunately, any hope of a solid foundation were dashed when Stewart was caught behind for 3. Moody Alam came in at number 3 and between him and Richardson, they began to consolidate and accumulate. They eventually both fell in non spectacular ways and with the balance of the game evenly poised, the departure of both Richards and Khalid cheaply must have given Prestwick hopes of a victory against the odds. However, the skipper after leading proceedings with the ball, stole the show with the bat, hitting a wonder half century and together with a very mature supporting innings from Gareth Kelly, saw the side home to win by 5 wickets.

A good start to the seasons campaign with plenty of positives. However the team will be aware that there is plenty of room for improvement come the start of the campaign next weekend away to Helensburgh.