Home wins boost survival hopes for Selkirk and Kelso cricketers
A six-wicket haul at a cost of just nine runs for Selkirk first-change bowler David Gardiner at home to Holy Cross on Saturday has boosted his club’s hopes of survival in the East of Scotland Cricket Association’s division three.
Though the Souters remain rooted to the foot of the table, their eight-wicket win against the formerly-third-placed Edinburgh outfit, their fifth win of the season, lifts their points-gained rate from 51% to 55% and sets up their three remaining fixtures against the clubs immediately above them as potential relegation-deciders.
Livingston’s third-from-bottom seconds, on 60%, are next up on the road this coming Saturday, followed by home games the two Saturdays following against seventh-placed Westquarter and Redding, also on 60%, and Marchmont’s second-from-bottom seconds, on 56%.
It was Selkirk’s bowling, spearheaded by Gardiner’s contribution, taking his tally of wickets for the season to 32 in 15 rounds, that put them on the path to victory at Philiphaugh at the weekend, with their visitors, batting first after losing the toss, being dismissed for 47 runs in 26 overs.
Their other wicket-takers were captain Daniel Heard with two for 14 and Liam Skeldon and Greg Fenton with one apiece, for 13 and eight respectively.
Chintan Patel, with 11, was the only Holy Cross batsman to reach double figures, Chris Banks’ total of nine being their next highest score.
In reply, Selkirk reached 48 for two in just 13 overs, with the bulk of their runs coming from opener Fenton and Ewan Torrance, respectively hitting 24 and ten not out.
At the other end of division three, second-placed Hawick and Wilton were beaten by four wickets away to the capital’s Kirk Brae on Saturday, taking their points-won percentage down from 79 to 74.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Buccleuch Park club were only able to manage a total of 79 for nine in 34 overs, with Philip Mactaggart top-scoring on 17 and captain Evan Alexander and Bruce Mactaggart his sole teammates to make it into double figures too, both with 16.
Four of their wickets fell to their hosts’ Umer Tahir at a cost of 11 runs, a tally Hawick’s Sadiq Shah matched but at the expense of 36 runs as the table-toppers came up with 80 for six in response in 22 overs.
Next up for Hawick is a trip to Tranent and Preston Village’s fourth-placed seconds this Sunday.
Three divisions up, Gala were hit by their eighth loss of the current ESCA championship season on Saturday, away to Carlton’s second-placed seconds in the capital by five wickets.
That leaves them second from the foot of the table with a points-won rate of 54% ahead of a round-16 visit from Edinburgh’s league-leading Drummond Trinity this Saturday.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, the Galashiels club set a target of 175 for seven from 50 overs, with Edward Eyre top-scoring on 86 not out.
Their hosts made it to 179 for five in 36 overs in reply, Tom Hathorn top-scoring on 61 not out.
Captain Jamie Crooks was the only visiting bowler to claim more than a single wicket, taking two for 42.
Kelso, like Selkirk, gave themselves a lifeline with a home win at the weekend, getting the better of East Lothian’s Bass Rock by 22 runs.
They too stay at the bottom of their table but with a points-won rate up from 42% to 46% ahead of a round-16 division two fixture away to Royal High Corstorphine’s eighth-placed thirds in the capital this Saturday.
Kenneth Keddie was their highest-scoring batsman with 19 as they set a target of 91 for ten in 31 overs and he was also their best bowler, with five wickets for 17 runs, as they limited their visitors to 69 for ten in 25 overs.