Weekend round up – 12th/13th September
The 1st XI entertained Stewart’s Melville for the final 40 over match of this COVID curtailed season. Batting first Carlton made 279 for 7 thanks to 66 from Murray Whitaker and 55* from Ali Evans. There were also useful contributions from Will Hardie (33); Arun Pillai (24); Angus Beattie (21) & Shiv Gupta (20). Gupta claimed an early wicket, but from then on it was spin to the fore. Beattie was the next to strike and then Pillai & Rory Allardice picked up 5 & 3 wickets respectively to bundle the visitors out for 108.
The 2s travelled to Portgower Place to face Grange 2s in a 25 over game. Batting first Kyle Macpherson (55) and Chris McAllister (31) got Carlton off to a good start and despite losing a flurry of wickets, Ruairidh Main (38*) saw the 2s to a competitive looking 160 for 6. A tight opening spell from Charles Stronach & Mikey Brown only yielded one wicket for Brown but the rate was beginning to climb. Scoreboard pressure eventually told on the home side as wickets fell to skipper Harry Simpson and Callum Sibley leaving Brown with 14 to defend in the final over. A 4 first ball gave Grange the advantage but a caught & bowled next ball and direct hit from Simpson tipped things Carlton’s way and the 2s ran out winners by 3 runs.
The 3s were due to travel to Livingston but unfortunately overnight rain flooded the square and the game was called off.
The 5s played the first of their 2 matches this weekend away at Falkland on Saturday afternoon with a team that included 4 father & son combinations. Batting first they scored a healthy looking 154 for 8 from their 36 overs. U12 Lewis King top scored with 36 and skipper Keith Murray chipped in with 25 at the top of the order. The home side, however, made short work of the chase although they did lose 5 wickets in the process – Hector Murray picked up 2, as did James Stronach while Euan claimed one for the senior contingent.
On Sunday the 4s welcomed Penicuik to Grange Loan and the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first. Wickets fell regularly but the 4s struggled to contain the run rate. The visitors finished on 179 for 9 from their 40 overs with Stu Dawson claiming 3 wickets and Andrew Lang & Joe Ward picking up 2 apiece and 1 for Charlie Kentish and a direct hit run out for Euan Keatinge. The home reply never really got going but some solid resistance from skipper Paul Kentish (43) and Fraser Kentish (22) helped the 4s post 117 for 9.
After a bit of rearrangement the Women travelled to near neighbours Watsonians for a 20 over game. The home side were bolstered by some of the younger Carlton girls who were playing in a Eastern Knights age group game at the same venue later that afternoon. The senior Carlton Women batted first making 38. Watsonians chased the total down quite quickly but played out the overs to give more valuable match experience to the Women’s squad.
The 5s played their second game of the weekend away at Marchmont. A booking mix up saw the game moved from Cavalry Park to Roseburn. Batting first Marchmont made 108 for 6 from their 25 overs. Hamish Turner & James Stronach both picked up 2 wickets. Paul Bailey (9) and Rory Ledingham (21) got the reply off to a great start and with Mike Kennedy (15) chipping in with useful runs it was left to Charles Stronach (21*) to see the 5s home with 7 balls to spare.