Weekend preview – 1st/2nd June
Only the five games for the Arrows this weekend but there is an Arrows vs Antlers double header in store.
The First XI will welcome high flying Grange to Grange Loan on Saturday. The match is kindly being sponsored by Hugh Parker. The North Edinburgh visitors are currently 4 from 4 in their pursuit to defend their title. In the match last year skipper Arun Pillai lost the toss and the Stockbridge side elected to bat first. Despite an early wicket for Ruaridh McIntyre the visitor’s top order all got starts as several useful partnerships kept the scoreboard ticking over. Carlton did pick up wickets too and eventually bowled Grange out for 220 in the 49th over. McIntyre finished with 4 wickets and there were 2 each for Rory Allardice & Umair Mohammad plus 1 for Pillai and an Ali Shah run out. The reply never really got going with 3 wickets falling in the first 4 overs. Only Daniel Da Costa made it to double figures with his 31 comfortably the top score as the home side were bundled out for 73 in the 25th over.
The Second XI are on the road again as they head to Kirkhill to face Penicuik. Last year Penicuik finished 4th in ESCA Division 1. This year they have 3 wins from their 4 completed games and sit in third place. These two sides last met at Kirkhill in 2022 in the ESCA Championship. In that game skipper Ben D’Ulisse lost the toss and the home side chose to bowl first. Both openers fell early but Kyle Macpherson and Will Hardie put on 117 for the 3rd wicket before Macpherson was bowled for 44. Hardie kept going but wickets fell at the other end and the left hander was the 6th man out for a composed 86 with the score on 173 at the start of the 44th over. The last 6 overs yielded 32 more runs as the 2s finished on 205 for 7 from their 50 overs. Charles Stronach and Omar Ahmad ran through the top order to reduce the home side to 18 for 6 including a run out. The Carlton bowlers didn’t let up and had Penicuik 33 for 9 in the 11th over. A late counterattack was eventually broken as Ahmad completed his 5 wicket haul and the home side were bowled out for 74 in the 19th over to give the 2s a 131 run win.
The Third XI’s match vs Edinburgh Accies 2s has been cancelled due to Edinburgh Academy closing Newfield after the recent wet weather.
The Fourth XI will head to Huntlyburn to face off against Melrose. Melrose were the other relegated side from ESCA Division 4 alongside our 4th team in 2023. Melrose have 3 wins from 4 games so far in ESCA Division 5 and currently sit in 2nd place. Last year captain for the day Keith Murray won the toss and invited the home side to bat first. A strong opening partnership was eventually broken by Aadi Khadse and then Josh Cully removed the other opener. Shreyas Tekale then entered the fray and returned the remarkable figures of 6 for 21 from 7.4 overs. Dan Mowat came back for a second spell and claimed 2 wickets to help bowl out the home side for 127 in the 38th over. In reply both Carlton openers fell early and despite 22 from Iain Hathorn and 27 from Chris Sale the 4s fell 36 runs short as they were bowled out for 91 in the 35th over.
The Fifth XI will take on Tranent & Preston Village 4s at Meadowmill on Saturday. TPV are newly promoted having finished 2nd in ESCA Division 8 last time out. The 5s have never played TPVs 4th team as they only formed in 2023. The 5s did however play TPV 3s in 2022 in Div 7 and in that match skipper Keith Murray won the toss and chose to bowl first. The home side posted 184 for 7 from their 40 overs with 2 wickets apiece for Robbie Murray and Daniel Mowat. Angus Turner and Aadi Khadse also picked up wickets as well as a run out for Harrison Fontenla. The 5s struggled with the bat to chase down the total with only Ben Stronach (20) and Khadse (23) really coming to terms with conditions. Mowat hit 17 not out at the end to collect a few more batting points but the 5s were bowled out for 116 in the 34th over to lose by 68 runs.
On Sunday the Women’s First XI will entertain Grange at Grange Loan in round 3 of the WPL. The Stockbridge outfit are currently 1 from 2 in the league having beaten WoS and lost to Sonians. In the fixture last year skipper Samantha Haggo lost the toss and Carlton were invited to bat first. 3 wickets fell early to leave Carlton in a spot of bother at 46 for 3 in the 10th over. Haggo and Priyanaz Chatterji then put on 152 for the 4th wicket before Chatterji eventually fell for 92 in the 24th over. Haggo (88*) kept going and helped her side post a commanding 270 for 5 from their 30 overs. The Arrows didn’t have it all their own way with the ball as Grange made 189 for 5 from their 30 overs. Masie Maceira & Chatterji claimed 2 wickets each and Gabriella Fontenla took 1 as Carlton completed an 81 run victory.
The Mixed Development XI’s fixture against Edinburgh South has been postponed as it was due to be played at the waterlogged Inch Park.