Melrose win rare cricketing derby at St Boswells

Another week of good weather was followed by another home cricket game for St Boswells in ESCA Division Three.
St Boswells' batsman Stephen BroomSt Boswells' batsman Stephen Broom
St Boswells' batsman Stephen Broom

They brought old rivals Melrose to the Green for their first league meeting since the Border League was disbanded nearly 10 years ago.

A youthful Melrose team won the toss and put the Saints into bat, reports Rich Young.

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Good bowling and excellent fielding meant runs were hard to come by. But a solid base was built (unlike previous weeks) as the home team stuck in and took the runs on offer.

Heading into the final 13 overs, St Boswells were 71 for 2. Enter big-hitting Steven Broom who, after getting his eye in, teed off spectacularly, hitting six sixes on his way to an impressive 89.

Broom was eventually bowled by Lindsay but Jamie Glover supported well in a partnership worth 115, nabbing 36 runs himself before he was bowled by Crawford and caught by Wojcik.

A par score of 170 for 5 was the end result but the late momentum from Broom’s fireworks appeared to move things in St Boswells’ favour.

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Lindsay had the best bowling figures for Melrose, 2 for 28, but credit went to Loftus, whose first four overs were maidens and, despite Broom’s late rally, ended with 1 for 18 off of his 8.

What followed was a thoroughly mature and impressive run chase by the Melrose team. The loss of an early wicket (Wojcik caught and bowled by Ruthven for 0) did not panic the visitors.

Loftus and Williams took the score to 54 off 16 overs before the later was bowled by Laidlaw for 18. Loftus (86) and Crawford (41) then shared a match winning partnership of 93, picking off the bad balls from St Boswells with ease.

Broom picked up both late in the game on his way to 3 for 36 but, with only 20 runs needed and six overs left, Lindsay and Baird saw Melrose home for a famous victory.

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Home captain Jamie Glover said: “It was a breath of fresh air to see such a young team play well. Their bowling was good and their fielding saved at least 30 runs in the field.”

The credit went to Melrose, while St Boswells ended a run of four home games with one win and three defeats in the relegation places.

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