Weekend Preview – 27th/28th July
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Six fixtures for the Arrows this weekend including a fixture for the Development XI
The First XI will head to Forthill on Saturday to take on Forfarshire. Forfs are currently 2nd in the EPL with 7 wins and 2 losses. The two sides didn’t meet earlier in the season as the rain got the better of Grange Loan. In that match last year at Forthill skipper Arun Pillai won the toss and chose to bat first. The innings got off to a familiar start with the loss of early wickets reducing Carlton to 42 for 3 in the 9th over. Pillai and Shujaa Khan restored some order before the skipper fell for 25 in the 19th over with 84 on the board. Khan was next to go for a patient 38 and that prompted a flurry of wickets to leave the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 114 for 8. Umair Mohammed (26) and Harry Simpson (32*) dug in, adding 60 runs for the ninth wicket but in the end the Arrows were bowled out for 185 in the 44th over. The home side got off to a fast start and although Rory Allardice made the breakthrough in the 7th over to leave the home side 41 for 1. There was more success in the 14th over as Khan claimed a wicket and with Pillai taking a return catch the next over the score was 76 for 3. The home side continued to take the attack to the bowlers and although Khan picked up 2 more wickets Forfs got over the line in the 36th over for a 5 wicket win. Daniel Da Costa is still leading the Arrows and Chayank Gosain returns to the top team.
The Second XI will host Clackmannan at Grange Loan on Saturday. The Alloa side are currently dead last in ESCA Division 1. In their 12 completed fixtures they have picked up 1 win and 11 losses. In the first meeting between the sides this year skipper Charles Stronach lost the toss and the Arrows were invited to bat first. Gav Murray & Dan Potter opened up for the 2s and put on 52 for the first wicket in bowler friendly conditions. Murray was first to go for 33 and Potter (11) fell shortly after. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as the visiting batters struggled to come to terms with the challenging surface. In the 23rd over at 78 for 5 Ben Stronach joined Harry Simpson at the crease and the pair were able to produce another meaningful partnership. They added a further 64 valuable runs in the next 13 overs before Simpson offered a return catch for a well made 36. Stronach Jnr fell shortly after for 37 and the remaining wickets fell fairly cheaply to see the 2s bowled out for 164 in the 42nd over. The home side got off to a decent start before Jamie Beattie claimed a wicket in the 6th over with 31 on the board. Rudy Adair struck next in the 11th over to make it 49 for 2 thanks to a good catch from Charlie Kentish. A second for Adair left the home side in trouble at 50 for 3 and the introduction of Simpson and Ben Stronach paid immediate dividends. A wicket for the off-spinner was followed by a double wicket maiden for the young left arm seamer to reduce Clacks to 63 for 6. Stronach Jnr claimed a 3rd wicket and Simpson a 2nd to leave the home side further adrift at 77 for 8. The pair picked up 1 more wicket each as the 2s bowled out the home side for 88 for a 76 run win and maintained their 100% record in ESCA Div 1 this season.
The Third XI head to Leith Links to play against Leith FAB. The North Edinburgh side are currently 10th in ESCA Division 2. The match earlier this year also didn’t survive the rain and the sides have never met in recent times. The 3s are bolstered by the return of Fergus Foley to league action for the Arrows
The Fifth XI wrap up Saturday as they travel to Inverleith Arti for a game against Stewart’s Melville 4s. Stew Mel are currently 6th in ESCA Division 7 with 4 wins and 7 losses. The last meeting between the two sides in the league at Inverleith was in 2022. In that match the toss was negotiated and the 5s would bowl first. Opening up with 13yr olds Robbie Murray & Hamish Turner the home side were in all sorts of trouble at 39 for 5 after 10 overs. They recovered well and were 137 for 6 after 27 overs when Turner came back and removed the set bat to complete his 5-fer. Aadi Khadse picked up a couple of wickets and Murray claimed a second to bowl Stew Mel out for 173 in the 36th over. Skipper Keith Murray opened up with Martin Robertson and put on a half century stand before Robertson fell for 12. Fresh from his exploits with the ball Turner joined Murray and the pair had a century partnership before Murray fell for 88 with just 14 needed for victory. Angus Turner joined his son at the crease and the pair saw the 5s home in the 37th over with Turner Jnr finishing on 36*.
The Fourth XI will wrap up the league weekend as they host Stewart’s Melville 3s at Grange Loan. Stew Mel 3s are currently 2 spots below the Arrows in 8th place in ESCA Division 5. The two sides also haven’t met in recent years due to them not being in the same division.
The Development are in action on Sunday at Kirkhill against Penicuik for a 1pm start.