Weekend roundup – 30th/31st July

The weekend got underway with the 1st XI welcoming Stewart’s Melville to Grange Loan.  Skipper Tom Simpson lost the toss and the visitors decided to bat first.  Ally Evans, fresh from taking on the New Zealanders for Scotland (pictured above), took 2 early wickets to leave Stew Mel 17 for 2 in the 7th over.  The visitors recovered adding 60 for the 3rd wicket until the partnership was eventually broken by a yorker from Ruaridh McIntyre.  Wickets then fell fairly regularly with two for Rory Allardice, one for Angus Beattie, a second for McIntyre and two sharp run outs.  The final wicket proved hard to get and with Stew Mel pro Shaylen Pillay having just brought up 3 figures, Allardice claimed his third and the visitors were bowled out for 205 in the 48th over.  In reply, Carlton lost Shujaa Khan early but Simpson and Arun Pillai rebuilt things until 3 quick wickets left the home side in trouble at 60 for 4 in the 17th.  Evans and Hayden Laing rebuilt again and added 55 for the 5th wicket before Laing was run out.  Shiv Gupta joined Evans and another good partnership developed before Evans was bowled for 64 with 170 on the board.  Another 2 wickets fell, including Gupta for 41, to give hope to the visitors but Allardice & Beattie saw Carlton home for a 2 wicket win in the 46th over.

The 2nd XI travelled west to Boghall to take on Linlithgow.  Captain Ben D’Ulisse lost the toss and Carlton were invited to bat first.  The visitors did not get off to the best of starts as the home side reduced Carlton to 51 for 4 in the 18th over.  A good partnership between Pete Gill and Ruari Macpherson added 63 before Gill fell for a patient 34.  That prompted a mini collapse as 4 wickets fell for the addition of 25 runs including Macpherson for 36.  In the end the final pair stuck it out and Carlton posted 152 for 9 from their 50 overs.  The start with the ball was promising as Saif Khan picked up 3 wickets and a run out left the home side 30 for 4 in the 14th.  Charles Stronach then claimed 2 wickets with successive balls to make it 52 for 6.  Another 2 wickets fell in quick succession to Kyle Macpherson and Max D’Ulisse to leave the home side in all sorts of trouble at 69 for 8 in the 25th over.  The home side however dug in and punished any loose deliveries, putting together what would turn out to be a match winning 9th wicket partnership as the home side got over the line with 2 wickets and 8 overs to spare.

The 3rd XI made the journey across town to Inverleith to take on Stewart’s Melville 2s.  Skipper Brad McKay lost the toss and Carlton were inserted.  Ben Thurman went early but Gregor McIntyre and Bruce Smith took the score to 49 before the latter fell for 21.  McIntyre followed him a couple of overs later for 25 and then wickets fell fairly regularly.  Several batters made it to double figures but none was able to go on and make a telling contribution as the 3s bowled out for 144 in the 39th over. Shaun Smith picked up a couple of early wickets but a good third wicket partnership was developing.  It was broken by Fraser Kentish in the 14th over with 64 on the board.  Unfortunately for the visitors another solid partnership developed and, depsite a late wicket for Charlie Kentish, Stew Mel cantered home with 9 overs and 6 wickets to spare.

The 4th XI also travelled to the north of the city to take on Holy Cross at Arboretum.  Captain Al Murray won the toss and opted to bowl first.  The home team got off to a decent start before Andrew Lang picked up both openers.  Abhi Mehta then chipped in with 2 wickets and Isaac Foley claimed 1 to leave Holy Cross 62 for 5 at drinks.  Joe Griffin took the 6th wicket but a 55 run 7th wicket partnership boosted the home total.  That stand was broken by Fergus Foley and then Mehta picked up his third thanks to a great diving catch at gully from Joe Ward.  2 run outs in the final over saw the home side bowled out for 150.  In reply the 4s made a slow start and then began to lose wickets at regular intervals.  At the halfway stage Carlton were 53 for 4 but although runs were now beginning to flow, wickets were also continuing to fall.  Lang was going well but struggled to find anyone to stay with him.  When the 9th wicket fell the 4s still needed 45 runs in 6 overs but Ward and Lang kept up with the rate to give the visitors hope of an ulikely victory.  Sadly it wasn’t to last as Ward holed out for a quick-fire 11, leaving Lang stranded on 35* and the 4s were bowled out for 124 in the 37th over to lose by 26 runs.

The 5th XI made the short journey to Inch Park 2 to play Edinburgh South 3s.  Skipper Keith Murray won the toss and decided to bowl first.  Stu Dawson struck early and then Hector Murray removed the other opener with 30 on the board.  Father & son duo Rahul & Aadi Khadse came into the attack and claimed the next 4 wickets with Khadse junior taking 3 of them, leaving the home side 71 for 6.   South recovered and took the score to 107 before Euan Murray broke the partnership.  Another good stand from the home side was broken by the returning Dawson swiftly followed by a 4th for Aadi Khadse.  The final wicket took the score to 179 before Rahul Khadse ended the innings with a runout in the final over.   In reply the skipper was caught on the boundary for 16 and the innings never really got going after that in the face of some good bowling.  Oli Stones (14) was the only other batter to get into double figures as the 5s were bowled out for 58 in the 26th over.

On Sunday the Women’s 2nd team took on their counterparts from Watsonians on the artificial at Myreside in a friendly match.  In a T20 contest the home side scored 134 for 4.  Holly was the most successful bowler claiming 3 for 19, while Miara also picked up a wicket.  With the bat the Carlton side fell well short although Sarah (19) and Ashley (10) made it to double figures before retiring to give the younger players a chance.

Also on Sunday Grange Loan hosted the annual Junior 6s competition.  5 teams competing in 10 matches all organised under the masterful eye of Martin Firth.  There were lots of close finishes and the team of Robbie, Harrison, Magnus, Noah, Oscar & Sacha came out on top.