Debutants Galore

Saturday saw the start of the EPL campaign for the 1st XI as they hosted Falkland with Angus Guy, Olly Davidson and Conor Regan getting their 1st team caps.  Guy looked to enjoy conditions at Grange Loan hitting 87 at the top of the order with skipper Dan Da Costa adding 72 to help the 1s post 263 for 8 from their 50 overs.  A solid opening stand from the Fifers was undone by the introduction of spin to the attack.  Rory Allardice picked up the first 2 wickets and then there were 2 for Davidson before Arun Pillai got in on the act.  By the time Davidson got his 3rd and Pillai his 2nd Falkland were on the ropes at 146 for 7.  Despite some resistance from Falkland’s overseas am the Fifers were bowled out for 194 to get the 1s league campaign off to a winning start.

The 2nd XI travelled to Dunnikier Park with a side containing 4 debutants as Samantha Evans, Aadi Khadse, Maisie Maceira and Hector Murray all turned out for the 2s for the first time.  It was a less of a fariytale start for them as the 2s conceded 202 having chosen to bowl first.  Khadse and Rory Ledingham did pick up 3 wickets apiece as well as a maiden 2s wickets for Maceira.  That total proved to be too big a mountain to climb with only Calum Robertson (28) able to make any meaningful inroads in the chase.  In the end the 2s were bowled out for 121 to lose by 81 runs.

The final game on Saturday saw the 3rd XI travel to Inverleith Arti to take on Drummond Trinity.  There were yet more debutants for the 3s but again they found life tough going stepping up to pace in ESCA Division 2.  Jake Heller did pick up his first 2 wickets for the 3s and Charis Scott also got a maiden wicket but the bowling accolades went to one of the more experienced 3s players, 15 year old Tom Hathorn with 4 for 29.  Chasing 206 proceedings got off to a bright start with a quickfire 24 from James Stronach but things went downhill pretty quickly from there.  Hathorn (14) & David Simpson (16*) were the only other batters to make it into double figures as the 3s were bowled out for 79 to fall a long way short.

On Sunday the Women started their defence of their WPL title with the visit of West of Scotland to Grange Loan.  The side had a much more settled look to it that the ones fielded the day before but the visitors produced a strong batting display to post 199 for 3 from their 30 overs.  Maisie Maceira was the pick of the bowers with 2 for 26 and Ajitha Rajan claimed the only other wicket.  Abbi Aitken-Drummond got the reply off to a fast start hitting 53 of 41 balls when a horrible injury to one of the West players on the hill meant the game had to be stopped.  By the time the ambulance had arrived to take the unfortunate fielder to hospital, the umpires called time on the game with the Arrows 75 for none off 10.5 overs.  We await an official ruling on the outcome of the game and the club’s best wishes go to the injured West fielder for a speedy recovery.

Also on Sunday the 4th XI played Penicuik 2s at Kirkhill.  Bowling first the 4s took regular wickets to keep the scoring rate in check and a couple of good catches in the deep saw Penicuik bowled out for 125 in the final over.  What seemed like an eminently chasable total looked significantly more challenging when the top order collapsed to 7 for 3.  The middle order dug in and got the scoreboard moving only to lose wickets at crucial times.  Unfortunately there was just too much for the lower order to do and the 4s were bowled out in the penultimate over falling just 14 runs short.

The 5th XI also played on Sunday with a trip across town to play Stew Mel 4s at Inverleith.  They fielded a side with juniors Elliot Peltenburg, Archie Smart & Daniel Smith making their senior debuts.  Having been inserted the 5s managed to post 161 for 7 from their 40 overs with Harrison Fontenla hitting his maiden senior 50 and skipper Keith Murray chipping in with 35 and also 30 from President Bob Irvine.  That total proved to be a little light despite Peltenburg picking up his first 3 senior wickets as the home side chased the runs down for the loss of 4 wickets.

Earlier in the week the Women’s 2nd XI began their Challenger League – East campaign with the visit of Stew Mel.  Ajitha Rajan led the way with the bat hitting an aggressive 33 and skipper Sarah Beith chipped in with 20 to help the Arrows to 125 for 3 from their 20 overs including some very enthusiastic running from Evie Miller.  In reply Stew Mel never got ahead of the rate and were left needing 11 of the last to win.  A good tight final over conceded only 2 runs saw the Arrows get their league campaign off to a winning start.