Weekend round up – 29th/30th August
After a week where almost every match was washed out the weather cleared just in time for the weekend games to go ahead. The 1st XI welcomed near neighbours Watsonians to Grange Loan who won the toss and elected to bat first. Two early wickets for 15 year old Ruaridh McIntyre had the visitors in trouble but skipper Carson & opener Place rebuilt. Ali Evans removed Place (25) with the score on 66, bringing former Carlton man Parker Neame to the crease. He put on 53 with Carson before Evans had him caught behind for 24. McIntyre came back and picked up 3 quick wickets to finish with 5 for 32. Carson (94*) continued to hit the ball well and took his side to 169 for 9 from their 40 overs. Arun Pillai got the chase off to a positive start before he was trapped in front for 38. Fellow opener Murray Whitaker hit an unbeaten 58, well supported by skipper Tom Simpson (23), Ali Shah (22) & Ruari Macpherson (13*), to see Carlton home in the 37th over. [Click here for photos from WCC snapper Graham Gaw.]
The 4th XI entertained Old Contemptibles at the compact surroundings of Cavalry Park 3 – otherwise known as the Subbueto Oval. OCCC were short of players so Stu Dawson, Isaac & Fergus Foley and Euan Keatinge were enlisted to bolster their ranks. Batting first the top 4 all got in but no one was able to go on an make a telling contribution. A lower order collapse saw the 4s bowled out for 113 in the final over. Top wicket takers were all Carlton players with 3 for Isaac and 2 each for Fergus & Stu. A couple of early wickets for Fraser Kentish gave the 4s hope that their total might be competitive but some big hitting from OCCC’s numbers 3 & 4 took the game away from Carlton. Despite a late wicket for Charlie Kentish, OCCC cantered home with 6 wickets in hand.
The 5th XI travelled to Inverleith to take on Stewarts Melville 4s in a 35 over a side contest. Bowling first the 5s restricted the home side to 88 with Max D’Ulisse claiming 3 for 10 – a feat matched by Lewis King on debut. Euan Murray picked up 2 for the grown ups with one each for Rory Ledingham and Hamish Foley (also on debut). A slightly more sedate than usual 33 from Mike Kennedy got the 5s within sight of the victory and they were seen over the line by Max (11*) & Lewis (13*) in the 31st over.
On Sunday a fixture mix up left the 2nd XI without an opposition so the 3rd XI moved their game against Boroughmuir from the Inch to Grange Loan. Batting first Ben Thurman (74) and Dougal Main (42) put on 113 for the first wicket. With both openers gone only Matthew Restall (31) really got going as the 4s were bowled out for 177 in the 39th over. Jamie Beattie picked up 2 early wickets and the game was in the balance before the introduction of Oscar Smith, who claimed 4 for 26, a the visitors were bundled out for 151 in the 36th over.
Also on Sunday the Women travelled to Myreside to take on Watsonians. Batting first Carlton made 140 thanks to 50 from skipper Sam Haggo and 31 from Charis Scott. In reply the home side was restricted to 89 all out in the final over with Scott picking up 3 wickets and a wicket apiece for Hannah Rainey, Leanne Farmer, Saskia Aldridge, Caitlin Hutchinson & Haggo. [More excellent photos from Watsonian photographer Graham Gaw can be found here.]