Selkirk all at sea for 175th anniversary cricket season finale
Selkirk’s last two matches of their 175th anniversary cricket season were literally – if not figuratively, as they lost both – a day at the beach.
Played at Elie in Fife on Sunday, they saw the Souters take on their host village’s Ship Inn team, billed as the only club in the world with a beach as their home pitch, and a fellow visiting team from Anchory in Aberdeenshire in a three-way T12 tournament.
The first match of the day saw Banchory edge out their East Neuk hosts by six runs.
The Ship bounced back in their next game, however, scoring 109-6 in 12 overs to Selkirk’s 101-4.
Greg Fenton was the Borderers’ top scorer on 31 not out, followed by David Gardiner on 25 not out, Rory Banks on 20, Ewan Torrance on 14 and Blaine Gillie on 11.
Their wicket-takers were Banks with two for ten runs, David and Ian Gardiner on 1-2, Bob Wilkinson on 1-7 and Fenton on 1-15.
Taking on Banchory, coincidentally also celebrating their 175th anniversary, Selkirk looked to be on course for victory after being set a target of 69-7 in their 12 overs but were unable to overhaul even that modest total.
Selkirk’s wicket-takers were 11-year-old Michael Gillie with 2-6, Daniel Heard with 2-12, David Gardiner on 1-2, Wilkinson on 1-3, Fenton on 1-6 and David Playfair on 1-9.
In reply, Selkirk lost five wickets in their first four overs and were bowled out for 62.
Their only batsman to reach double figures was David Gardiner with 19.
That concluding match also saw eight-year-old Robert Torrance became the youngest player ever fielded by Selkirk for a senior fixture.
The Souters were the last of 16 teams hosted by the Ship since May, starting off with Inverclyde’s Kilmacolm and also including neighbours Earlsferry, London’s Marylebone Cricket Club and the itinerant Borderers.