Weekend roundup – 27th/28th August

The final weekend of league action got underway with the 1st XI making the long journey north to Peoples Park to take on Stoneywood Dyce.  The team featured Ru Main making his 1st team debut along with this season’s 2 other new Arrows caps, pro Neville Madziva and Gav Murray.  Skipper Tom Simpson won the toss and invited the home side to bat first.  Ruaridh McIntyre took 2 wickets in the 8th over to reduce Dyce to 19 for 2.  The introduction of Angus Beattie in the 16th over had an immediate impact as the home side fell to 41 for 3.  Dyce staged a bit of a recovery but the 4th wicket partnership was broken by Arun Pillai just before the halfway point with 83 on the board.  Adeel Raza picked up the next wicket in the 35th over and a run out 2 overs later left home side 133 for 6.  Beattie then claimed 2 wickets in 2 balls and Ally Evans came back into the attack and claimed the final 2 wickets to bowl Dyce out for 154 in the 44th over.  Simpson and Shujaa Khan put on 107 for the first wicket before Khan was out caught for 45.  Simpson carried on and despite the loss of another 3 wickets, including the skipper for a fine 71, debutant Main hit the winning runs in the 26th over to finish the season with a 6 wicket victory.  That result means Carlton finished 4th in the Eastern Premier League.

The 2nd XI welcomed Penicuik to Grange Loan knowing that a win was vital to keep their somewhat unlikely chances of wining the Championship alive.  Captain Ben D’Ulisse lost the toss and the visitors chose to field first.  Ruari Macpherson nicked off in the 3rd over and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.  Only D’Ulisse  came close to coming to terms with conditions but he was the 4th wicket to fall for 19 with 46 on the board.   In the end the home side were bowled out for 79 in the 27th over with Rory Ledingham (12) the only other batter to reach double figures.  In reply Omar Ahmad struck with the second ball but it took until the last ball of the 9th over for the next wicket fall, again to Ahmad, but by then Penicuik were more than halfway to the total.  Ahmad picked up a third wicket and Charles Stronach claimed one but the visitors ran out comfortable winners by 6 wickets in the 19th over.  As a result the 2s slipped to 4th in the ESCA Championship.

The 3rd XI travelled to Campbell Park to take on Edinburgh CC 2s.  Skipper Brad McKay won the toss and chose to bowl first.  Carlton bowled out the home side for 107 on a challenging wicket with Dougie Firth claiming 4 wickets and Cam Keatinge chipping in with 3.  In reply none of the batters were able to impose themselves on the home bowling and the 3s were bowled out for 87 to lose by 30 runs.  The 3s fininshed 6th in ESCA Division 2.

The 4th XI entertained Edinburgh Uni Staff at Cavalry Park 2.  Uni Staff needed 8 points to guarantee top spot and the 4s wanted at least as many points as Watsonians 3s to avoid relegation.  Captain Al Murray lost the toss and the visitors chose to bat first.  Uni Staff got off to a fast start in the compact surrounds of Cav 2 and it took until the 8th over before Abhi Mehta claimed the first wicket.  A strong second wicket partnership was broken by Hamish Foley just after drinks with 101 on the board.  Foley struck again in the 25th over but another good partnership formed.  The reintroduction of Ferg Foley paid dividends in the 37th over and Mehta then claimed 3 wickets in the 38th.  He completed his 5-for in the final over and a Joe Ward run out meant that Uni Staff finished on 239 for 9.  The 4s reply never really got going as wickets fell at regular intervals.  It took a 46 run final wicket partnership between Ward and Hamish Foley to get the home side to a respectable score and secure a further 3 losing batting points.  In the end the 4s were bowled out for 133 in the 35th over with Ward top scoring on 32*.  The 9 losing bonus points were enough to ensure the 4s survival in ESCA Division 4 for another season as they finished 8th.

On Sunday the 5th XI travelled to Dresselrigg to take on Livingston 3s.  Skipper Keith Murray lost the toss and the 5s were inserted.  Murray and fellow opener James Stronach put on 48 for the first wicket before the skipper nicked off for 19 off the last ball of the 12th over.  Aadi Khadse joined Stronach and the young pair added 28 in the next 10 overs before the opener fell for 40.  Khadse followed 3 balls later and then wickets kept falling at regular intervals.  Of the middle order only Hamish Turner (16) made it to double figures as the 5s were bowled out for 127 in the 36th over.  A fine opening spell from Hector Murray and Daniel Mowat reduced the home side to 19 for 5 after 10 overs with Murray claiming 3 wickets and Mowat 2.  The change bowlers were unable to break the 6th wicket partnership and despite the skipper ringing the changes it took an Angus Turner run out in the 31st over to halt the home side’s progress.  That made it 101 for 6 but there was no further success for the 5s as Livingston reached the target in the 36th over for a 4 wicket win.  That result meant a 10th place finish for the 5s in ESCA Division 7.