Weekend preview – 29th/30th July

It’s the fourteenth round of league cricket this weekend and the Arrows have six senior fixtures coming up.

On Saturday the First XI will venture across town to Inverleith where they will meet Stewart’s Melville. The Edinburgh side currently sit two places below the Arrows spot, in 5th place. In the game played earlier this season the Arrows won the toss and opted to bat first.  Umair Mohammed fell early but Daniel Da Costa joined Ru Main at the crease and after a watchful few overs began to open up.  The pair put on 261 for the second wicket, a new club record partnership, during which both batters brought up three figures.  The epic partnership was eventually broken in the 46th over with Main departing for 112. Da Costa fell for 148 in the 48th over and there was a further clatter of wickets as the home side finished on 299 for 6 from their 50 overs.  In reply, Charles Stronach, playing his first 1st XI game for 17 years, removed both openers to leave the visitors 24 for 2 after 9 overs.  Things got worse for Stew Mel with a runout from Mohammed but a good 4th wicket partnership was developing.  Rory Allardice made the breakthrough in the 24th over to make it 98 for 4 but the home side had to wait until the 37th over for the next wicket.  Pillai was the man to strike with Stew Mel having 180 on the board.  Another 2 wickets fell in quick succession off the bowling of Mohammed and then David Saul got in on the act to claim a wicket on debut.  Pillai then picked up 2 in 2 to bowl the visitors out for 213 in the 43rd over to set up an 86 run win.

The 2nd XI will welcome Morton to Grange Loan this weekend. The side originally based at the Meadows are currently sitting in top spot in the ESCA Championship. The game at Loretto in round five was won comfortably by the hosts. Carlton won the toss and invited the home team to bat first.  Morton got off to a fast start but Jamie Beattie picked up a wicket in the 6th over to leave the home side 29 for 1.  It took until the 22nd over for the next wicket to fall as Max D’Ulisse struck with 103 on the board.  The young offspinner claimed 2 more and after 30 overs the home side were 132 for 4.  Chayank Gosain then got in on the act and a runout from Isaac Foley left Morton 159 for 6.  Gosain then claimed the final 4 wickets to complete a 5-fer as the home side were bowled out for 195 in the 47th over. The reply got off to a disastrous start as Matt Wells was bowled first ball of the innings.  Charlie Kentish and Gosain rebuilt things somewhat but both fell in quick succession to leave Carlton in trouble at 37 for 3.  Three more wickets fell with the score on 50 leaving the visitors a mountain to climb.  In the end Carlton were bowled out for 85 in the 30th over to lose by 110 runs.

The 4th XI will entertain east lothian side Dunbar at Peffermill. The away side currently sit 4 places above the Arrows in 6th place. Earlier this season the sides met at Winterfield Park where the Arrows lost the toss and the home team chose to bat first.  A good opening spell from Abhi Mehta & Dan Mowat saw Dunbar 18 for 2 off 7 as each opening bowler picked up a wicket.  The home batters were punishing anything loose and the score moved on to 82 before Robbie Murray picked up 2 in 2 in the 19th over.  Hamish Foley then claimed the 5th wicket in the 20th over but Dunbar consolidated once more.  Stu Dawson broke the 6th wicket partnership in the 28th over with Nelson on the board.  Another good partnership was broken when Mowat came back to leave the home side 147 for 7 after 36 overs.  Murray then claimed 2 more wickets in the 39th over and Mowat completed a runout in the final over to bowl Dunbar out for 172.  In reply John Beattie fell early, followed not long after by James Stronach.  Skipper Murray & Shreyas Tekale consolidated but were unable to take the game to bowlers.  Tekale fell in the 17th over quickly followed by Oli Stones as Foley joined the skipper at the crease.  The pair added 78 for the 5th wicket before Murray miscued one to depart for 59.  More wickets fell as Carlton chased quick runs including Foley for a well made 40.  In the end the 4s finished on 141 for 7 from their 40 overs to lose by 31 runs.

To conclude action on Saturday the 5th XI are heading to Inverleith Park where they will face OCCC. The hosts currently reside one spot above the 5s in 4th place. In this season’s first meeting between the sides the Arrows won the toss and inserted the visitors.  Kartic Subr & Euan Murray opened the bowling and kept things tight as well as regularly troubling the batters.  Murray picked up 2 wickets and when the openers were replaced by Rahul & Aadi Khadse things didn’t get any easier for OCC.  Khadse Snr picked up 3 wickets with 2 for Jnr and John Gill produced a runout to leave the visitors in all sorts of bother at 45 for 8 at drinks.  A fine 9th wicket partnership developed which took OCC well over 100 before Josh Cully came on and claimed the last 2 wickets to bowl out the visitors for 123 in the 37th over.  In reply the skipper & Tom Hathorn put on 68 for the first wicket before Hathorn was runout for 31.  Murray was next to fall for 38 and then more wickets fell with the total in sight.  In the end Cully (12*) and Tom Dweck (0*) saw the 5s home for a 4 wicket win in the 32nd over.

The 3rd XI are back at Grange Loan this Sunday. This week they will welcome fellow Edinburgh side Kirk Brae. The away side are currently sitting in 8th place in ESCA Division 2. In the reverse fixture at Double Hedges, the Arrows lost the toss and the home team decided to bat first.  Shaun Smith struck in the first over but the home side were scoring freely.  It took until the 17th over for the next wicket to fall as the other opener nicked off to McKay.  Runs continued to flow and although Ben Thurman chipped in with 3 wickets as well as 2 more for Smith plus a runout and 1 apiece for Vijay Nagarajan & Dougie Firth which saw Kirbrae bowled out for 206 in the 40th over.  In reply, the 3s were well placed at drinks with the score 92 for 3 and Paul Kentish & Euan Keatinge going well but both set batters were run out and the new men couldn’t come to terms with conditions and the 3s collapsed to 115 all out, to lose by 91 runs.

Also on Sunday the Women’s second team are venturing west to East Kilbride for an 11am start.