Weekend preview – 20th/21st May
It’s the fourth round of league cricket this weekend and with the weather finally coming good it promises to be an action packed Saturday and Sunday for the Arrows.
On Saturday the First XI will make the long trip north to People’s Park where they will face Stoneywood Dyce. Last season Dyce finished one place above the drop and are currently none from three in this year’s edition. In last year’s league season the Arrows won both bouts against Dyce. In the game at People’s Park the visitors won the toss and Dyce were asked to bat first. 3 wickets from Angus Beattie and 2 each from Ali Evans and Ruaridh McIntyre helped bowl out the home side for 154 in the 44th over. In response the Arrows chased down the total with plenty overs to spare and 6 wickets in hand. Tom Simpson and Shujaa Khan led from the front with 71 and 45 respectively. Lewis O’Donnell will return to the side on Saturday.
The 2nd XI, fresh off their victory in Fife, will welcome Grange 2s to Grange Loan. The Stags finished 2 places behind the Arrows in 6th place in the 2022 ESCA Championship. Both sides have only been able to complete one game this season, with both teams winning their game. The Arrows did the double over the Stags last season. The game at Grange Loan came early on last year, one week earlier than this year’s fixture. In that match the Arrows batted first and were bowled out for 217, with Fraser Burnet’s 50 the top score. In response Grange slumped to 38-7 with Shiv Gupta picking up 6 of the first 7 wickets. After a resurgence from the Grange lower order the Arrows had to wait for Kyle Macpherson to scoop up the last 3 wickets to secure the victory.
The 3rd XI will entertain Clackmannan at Peffermill on Saturday. The Alloa side have entered ESCA Division 2 after finishing in 9th place in ESCA Division 1 in 2022. Clacks have got off to a strong start this year, winning both of their completed games so far this season. The last meeting between Carlton and Clackmannan’s first team came in the 2021 edition of the ESCA Championship. In the only meeting between the sides, Carlton batted first and collapsed to 79-5 with only Gavin Murray (37) making it into double figures. However fortunes turned for the Arrows as the engine room came good for the sky blue men. Ben D’Ulisse (69), Calum Everett (40), Ruaridh McIntyre (39*) and Rory Allardice (29) helped the Edinburgh side reach 269-8 off their 50 overs. Clackmannan were then skittled for 56 with Ruaridh McIntyre picking up 4 wickets and Ruari Macpherson claiming 3.
To conclude action on Saturday the 5th XI will head to Craiglockhart to take on Watsonians 4s. Last year ‘Sonians finished one place below the 5s in 11th place. The sides met twice in ESCA Division 7 last time out, with the Arrows claiming the spoils on both occasions. In this exact fixture last year the Arrows batted first and got themselves to 152-8, James Stronach top scored with 32. Angus Turner yet again returned remarkable figures of 6-2-4-5 and with Aadi Khadse backing him up well with 3 wickets, Watsonians were dismissed for 53.
Sunday’s action starts with a second round Scottish Cup tie against Falkland at Grange Loan. The First XI met Falkland twice last season in the EPL, with the first game being lost to the rain and the second finishing as a tie. In the second match the Arrows were inserted and put 222 on the board. Fraser Burnett (56), Shujaa Khan (50) and Tom Simpson (40) were in the runs. Falkland reached 222-6 from their 50 overs in response. Wickets were shared around with Beattie taking 2 and Ali Evans, Neville Madziva and Rory Allardice all getting a scalp each. In round 1 of the Scottish Cup Carlton eased past Edinburgh CC by 5 wickets and Falkland skelped Kelburne to set up this second round fixture.
Also on Sunday the Women’s First XI will continue their WPL season against Grange at Portgower Place, following on from their win last week against West of Scotland. The away side finished eighth in the WPL last year, seven spots below the Arrows. In last year’s meeting at Grange Loan the Arrows batted first and the side amassed a first innings total of 293 for 6. Both Charis Scott and Abbi Aitken Drummond retired having reached triple figures. Maisie Maceira was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-13, as the Arrows bowled the Stags out for 102.
In the final fixture of the weekend the 4th XI will travel to Boghall for a home match against Linlithgow 2s. The choice of venue is due to Grange Loan being used for the Scottish Cup tie and Boghall being available. Linlithgow 2s finished in 5th place last year, 3 positions above the 4th XI. The side currently have one win from 2 games in ESCA Division 4 this season. In last year’s home game the Arrows batted first at the Meadows and were bowled out for 162 in the 38th over. Paul Kentish top scored with 62. Linlithgow failed to get going in tricky conditions and were ultimately bowled out for 68.