Weekend preview – 5th/6th August
It’s the fifteenth round of league cricket this weekend and the Arrows have eight senior fixtures coming up including the National T20 Finals Day.
On Saturday the First XI will take on Watsonians at Myreside. The Edinburgh side currently sit three places below the Arrows spot, in 6th place. In the game played earlier this season the Arrowswon the toss and elected to bat first. Ru Main fell early but Shujaa Khan and Daniel Da Costa put on 78 for the second wicket before Da Costa departed for 39. Wickets continued to fall and despite 64 from Khan and Ben D’Ulisse’s 38 the home side posted a below par 206 as they were bowled out in the 49th over. In reply Ruaridh McIntyre took an early wicket but the visitors were punishing any loose deliveries. The scored raced along to 61 when Lewis O’Donnell claimed the second wicket. Rory Allardice and Omar Ahmad then took wickets and a second for Allardice swung the game in Carlton’s direction with Watsonians 80 for 5. A 57 run partnership was eventually broken by Allardice and then McIntyre & Pillai picked up wickets to leave the visitors 162 for 8. Watsonians regrouped and knocked off the required runs in the 44th over to record a 2 wicket win.
The 2nd XI will welcome Gala to Grange Loan this weekend. The side based in the borders are currently sitting in 4th place in the ESCA Championship. The game at Meigle Park in round six was won comfortably by the hosts. Carlton lost the toss and the home side chose to bat first. Charles Stronach picked up an early wicket and then Jamie Beattie claimed 3 to leave the match evenly balanced at 125 for 4 at the halfway point. A sensible batting display from the home side in the second 25 overs saw them post 281 for 7 with further wickets for Isaac & Fergus Foley as well as Shaun Smith. In reply Gav Murray & Charlie Kentish put on 51 for the first wicket before Murray went for 27. Kentish (20) followed soon after and despite a battling 43 from Dan Potter and 21 from Shaun Smith the Arrows were bowled out for 160 to lose by 121 runs.
The 3rd XI will venture west to Campbell Park for their fixture against Edinburgh 2s. The home side currently sit 5 places above the Arrows in 4th place. Earlier this season the sides met at Merchiston Castle School where the Arrows won the toss and chose to bat first. David Simpson fell early but Anish Amin & Paul Kentish put on 55 for the second wicket before Kentish went for 24. Amin fell not long after for 36 and despite useful cameos from Sam Haggo (11); James Stronach (18) & Ben Stronach (17) the 3s were bowled out for 142 in the 36th over. An early wicket for Kyle Burgess gave Carlton some hope but the visitors continued to play their shots. Hamish Foley claimed a wicket and there were 2 late wickets for Haggo but Edinburgh CC made it home in the 30th over for a 6 wicket win.
The 4th XI are heading to North Berwick for their match against Bass Rock’s top side. The home side are currently leading the promotion race in ESCA Division 4. In the reverse fixture at Grange Loan, the Arrows won the toss and chose to field first. The strong visiting batting line up took full advantage of any loose deliveries and it took the introduction of Stu Dawson to the attack to claim the first wicket. Harry Charman then picked up 2 wickets with his left arm offies before Benji Risi picked up former Scotland skipper and onetime Carlton player George Salmon, caught in the deep. Sadly there was no more success for the bowlers as the other former Scotland cap in the visitors ranks also made 50 as the visitors posted 243 for 4 from their 40 overs. In reply, the 4s’ struggles with the bat continued with only Murray (12); Cam Moore (19) and Joe Griffin (15) making it into double figures as the home side were bundled out for 85 in the 27th over.
To conclude action on Saturday the 5th XI are facing off against Marchmont 3s at the second square at Cavalry Park. The Edinburgh side currently reside one spot below the 5s in 6th place. In this season’s first meeting between the sides the Arrows won the toss and opted to bat first in the compact surroundings of Cav 2. The skipper fell early but Tom & Iain Hathorn recovered things before Hathorn Jnr went for 13. Aadi Khadse (13) gave Hathorn Snr some support but none of the other batters were able to come to terms with the bowling. Fortunately Hathorn was in good nick and brought up three figures before departing for an excellent 105 as the Arrows posted 160 all out from their 40 overs. Angus Turner picked up an early wicket, quickly followed by one for Lewis Broster to leave Marchmont 13 for 2. Turner picked up another to reduce the home side to 50 for 3 but a 58 run fourth wicket stand moved things Marchmont’s way. Rahul Khadse eventually broke the partnership and John Gill claimed a wicket as the home side neared the target. There was time for a Tom Dweck run out before Marchmont passed the Carlton total in the 33rd over to set up a 4 wicket win.
Getting Sunday’s action underway the First team are taking part in the National T20 Finals Day at New Williamsfield. In the semi final they will meet fellow EPL side Falkland after they finished as runners up in the SPCU T20 Qualifier. Should the Arrows be successful they will meet either last year’s winners Forfarshire or Rowan Cup winners Prestwick. The Arrows last success in the T20 Scottish Cup came in 2021 (beating Forfarshire in the final), and in similar fashion to that year the winner of this year’s competition will earn themselves a ticket to Malaga for next year’s ECL.
The Women’s first team also have an important fixture on Sunday as they welcome Watsonians to Grange Loan for their Beyond Boundaries Scottish Cup quarter-final. In the league meeting between the sides at Myreside the Arrows lost the toss and the home side chose to bat first. Wickets fell fairly regularly as a good bowling and fielding performance saw the home side bowled out for 94 in the 23rd over. There were wickets for Maisie Maceira (2); Gabriella Fontentla; Flora Corbin; Charis Scott (3); Ajitha Rajan and Haggo who also chipped in with a run out. In reply Sarah Beith fell early but Ciara Gibson & Scott broke the back of the chase before Scott fell for an aggressive 43. Haggo joined Gibson at the crease and saw her side to the target in the 12th over with Gibson finishing on 24 not out.
Also on Sunday the Women’s second team will entertain Grange at Grange Loan for 9.30am start.