U14s through to finals day
The Carlton U14 Cup side arrived at Craiglockhart for their Scottish Cup quarter final clash with Watsonians in good shape. The side contained 2 Scotland U15 players and several more age group Eastern Knights players and looked forward to the challenge of their near neighbours who had coasted past Livingston and Gala to reach this stage. On winning the toss skipper Gav Murray opted to bat first and he and Rua McIntyre strode to the middle. After a watchful start Rua unleashed some big shots and Gav rotated the strike and the pair put on 52 before Rua was retired on 30. Murray Johnson joined Gav and after defending his first ball set about the bowling, hitting 25 of 10 balls before being bowled by Ben Hogg. Shaun Smith joined the skipper and hit a few strong shots before he too was bowled by Hogg. Charlie Kentish came out and nudged the ball around well as Gav upped the tempo – retiring for 32. Matthew Restall was the next man in and hit a few clean balls to the fence and also ran well with Charlie who went on to retire on 32. Jamie Beattie joined Matthew but the latter, seeking late runs, was bowled by Blackstock for 21. Isaac Foley and Jamie batted out the remaining balls to see Carlton to a total of 174 for 3 from their 20 overs.
Mark Mackay opened the bowling and struck in his first over, bowling Baltzer for a duck. Jamie opened from the other end and his tight bowling induced a run out, well executed by Matthew and Gav. Mark bowled another good over and the pressure of the run rate caused the batters to take a risky single to Muz who produced a clean pickup and direct hit to run out Khan. Jamie’s second over was a wicket maiden as he bowled opener Teall to leave the home side on 7 for 4. Isaac and Fraser replaced the openers but it wasn’t until Rudy Adair and Charlie came on that the next wickets fell as they each claimed one in their first over. Rudy picked up another and then Fraser Kentish came back and opened his account. Jamie also came back and collected his second wicket and Charlie completed the victory with yet another bowled wicket. Watsonians ended on 31 all out in the 16th over and Carlton were through to Finals Day next month at Inverleith.
