Second victory in succession for Selkirk cricketers

An opening partnership of 135 from 26 overs was the perfect start for the Souters, reports Neil Gentleman.

Greg Fenton led the way with a brisk 80, the highlight of which was a straight six over the fence and on to the football ground.

The captain ultimately fell to a solid catch by Pearce on the mid-wicket boundary from the bowling of McDonald (1 for 45).

Fenton was partnered for the duration by Rory Banks, who was constantly finding fielders with his best shots. Banks raised a disappointed groan from teammates when, on 49, he skied a delivery from Syme (2 for 19), with the bowler strolling underneath to take the catch himself at short cover.

The size of the boundary and the slow conditions, overcome by the openers, was more of a challenge for incoming batsmen and runs slowed from then on.

Selkirk were 40 or 50 short of what they may have expected but still posted a decent Philiphaugh total of 178 for the East Lothian visitors to chase.

Haddington struggled to get going, with Banks and Greg Fenton opening the bowling and returning miserly figures of 1 for 18 and 0 for 16 respectively.

Where Selkirk had been able to scamper for twos and threes, the visitors were under much greater pressure from the hosts in the field.

Wickets were always going to be hard to come by on a slow pitch but first change Daniel Heard managed to knock over the openers, so at 20 overs down, Haddington were struggling at 43 for 2.

Heard was the pick of all bowlers on the day and finished with 4 for 23, with a niggling feeling that an lbw decision should also have gone his way.

In the field, Selkirk were sharp and didn’t let many chances go by, with Gardiner’s catch at mid on, off Heard’s bowling to remove Cruikshank (17), being the catch of the day.

Spectators would have been excused for thinking Gardiner wasn’t going to make it but retreating and turning, all legs and arms, he managed to get himself under the ball and took the catch.

Haddington hirpled to 113 for 7 from their 40 overs, with Gillie taking the other two wickets to fall, removing the need for an umpire's decision by clean-bowling both Blades (18) and Doutwood (2).

Logan top-scored for the visitors with 28 not out, while he and Borrowman (25) were striking the ball well and will probably feel they left a few runs out in the mossy outfield.

Selkirk will hope to take this form to Edinburgh on Sunday coming, where they take on Murrayfield DAFS.