Weekend roundup – 23rd/24th July

On Saturday the 1st XI made the short journey to Myreside to take on Watsonians. Skipper Tom Simpson lost the toss and the home side chose to bowl first. A good opening stand from Simpson & Shujaa Khan was broken in the 17th over when Khan went for 36 with 62 on the board. That prompted a succession of wickets including Simpson for 31 to leave Carlton 106 for 6 after 28 overs. A decent partnership between Neville Madziva (23) and Will Hardie (55) threatened to rescue things for the visitors but wickets continued to fall and Carlton were bowled out for 216 in the 48th over. The home side got off to a fast start and it took the introduction of Rory Allardice in the 13th over to make the breakthrough with 79 on the board. Allardice claimed another in his second over and spin again did the damage in the 26th over as Angus Beattie picked up the first of his 4 wickets, and despite a run out and a wicket for Ruaridh McIntyre Watsonians ran out winners in the 46th over with 2 wickets in hand.

The 2nd XI welcomed Marchmont to Grange Loan and skipper Ben D’Ulisse won the toss and elected to bat first. Wickets tumbled at the top as Carlton slumped to 47 for 4 in the 13th over. A 120 run partnership between Shiv Gupta and Mo Nauman rescued things for the home side. The 5th wicket stand was broken when Nauman holed out for 55, followed not long after by Gupta for 91. Runs continued to flow helped by a 60 run 8th wicket stand from D’Ulisse (43*) and Calum Everett (23). In the end the home side were bowled out for 272 in the 48th over. Charles Stronach picked up a wicket in the second over and claimed the next 2 wickets to leave the visitors in trouble at 28 for 3. Harry Simpson was the next to strike as he and Everett picked up 3 wickets each and a Pete Gill run out saw Marchmont bowled out for 60 in the 29th over.

The 3rd XI entertained Edinburgh Accies 2s at Peffermill. Skipper Brad McKay lost the toss and Carlton were inserted. A poor batting display saw the 3s bowled out for 97 in the 30th over. Only Ben Thurman (22); Charlie Kentish (20) and Rory Ledingham (17) made it to double figures. Ben Stronach took 2 early wickets to give the 3s some hope but Accies were finding scoring easier than the 3s had done.  Despite 2 wickets for the off spin of Kentish, the visitors got over the line in the 18th over with 6 wickets to spare.

The 4th XI were also at “home” as they welcomed Watsonians 3s to Cavalry Park 2. Captain Al Murray lost the toss and the visitors chose to bowl first. The skipper and John Beattie fell early but a 93 run partnership between Gregor McIntyre and David Simpson was eventually broken when McIntyre skied one to depart for 54 with Nelson on the board. Simpson kept going and found good support from Rudy Adair (19); Mike Kennedy (46) and Fergus Foley (27*) and his 98 not out helped propel the 4s to a total of 295 for 5 from their 40 overs.  McIntyre & Isaac Foley took the new ball and the latter removed both openers in the 4th over with just 16 on the board.  McIntyre picked up a wicket in the 7th over and Foley claimed his third in the 8th to leave the visitors in trouble at 36 for 4.  A run out didn’t help the Watsonian cause and then change bowlers Callum Sibley and Joe Ward claimed 2 and 3 wickets respectively to wrap up a 233 run win for Carlton.

On Sunday the Women played Watsonian Women in the quarter-final of the Beyond Boundaries Women’s Scottish T20 Cup at Myreside.  Skipper Annette Aitken-Drummond lost the toss and Carlton were invited to bat first.  Despite the early loss of Charis Scott, Heather Tait and Samantha Haggo took the score past 50 before Tait fell for 19. Zaara Dancu joined Haggo at the crease and the pair added 69 for the 3rd wicket before Haggo was bowled for an excellent 66 of only 58 balls.  The skipper was next in and with Dancu (23*) saw Carlton post 136 for 3 from their 20 overs.  In reply the Carlton bowlers were very economical and restricted the home side to 53 for 6.  There were wickets for Gabriella Fontenla, Dancu, Ashley Robertson, Janie Hemsley (2) and Tait.  The 83 run victory for Carlton sees them through to the finals day of the T20 cup in late August.

Also on Sunday the 5th XI entertained Watsonians 4s at Grange Loan.  Captain Keith Murray won the toss and chose to bowl first.  A reasonable start for the visitors saw them 72 for 4 at drinks with wickets for Robbie Murray and 3 for Angus Turner.  A mix up in the 26th over saw the set batter run out and Watsonians struggled after that. In the end they were bowled out for 98 in the 35th over with Turner finishing with 4 wickets and Hamish Foley also chipping in with 3.  In reply, despite a couple of early scares, Keith Murray (64*) and James Stronach (24*) saw the 5s home in the 13th over for a 10 wicket win.

Sadly the other scheduled fixtures for Sunday were cancelled as the Women’s 2nd team game at East Kilbride fell foul of heavy overnight rain in the West and the Mixed Dev XI were unable to find an opposition.