Weekend roundup – 4th/5th June
The 1st XI welcomed RHC to Grange Loan in round 6 of the Eastern Premier League. Skipper Tom Simpson won the toss and elected to bat first. A good opening stand from Simpson & Shujaa Khan was broken in the 20th over when Khan went for 38 with 72 on the board. Simpson fell next over for 26 but Arun Pillai and Fraser Burnett put on 64 for the 3rd wicket before Burnett was trapped in front for a brisk 40. Pillai kept going but no one was able to stay with him and clatter of wickets in the 50th over saw the home side finish on 246 for 9 with Pillai’s 89 the top score. In reply Shiv Gupta picked up an early wicket and Rory Allardice claimed 2 to leave RHC 81 for 3 in the 20th over. Former Scotland U19 man Liam Naylor was batting well and finding decent support. Despite further wickets for Pillai (2) and Angus Beattie and 2 runouts Naylor saw the visitors home with an unbeaten 144 with 2 wickets and 3 balls to spare.
The 2nd XI travelled to Goldenacre to take on Heriot’s 2s. Stand in captain Harry Simpson won the toss and opted to bat. Despite losing Gav Murray first ball Matt Wells (22) and Kyle
Macpherson (17) set a decent base. Lots of other batters got in but only Mo Nauman (61) found any fluency and in the end the 2s were bowled out for 180 in the 42nd over. Charles Stronach picked up an early wicket and fellow opener Omar Ahmad broke a decent second wicket partnership. Stronach claimed another to wrest control the way of the visitors only for the home side to fight back again. A run out from Hayden Laing and 4 wickets from Calum Everett tipped things back in Carlton’s favour but once again Heriot’s dug in and inched towards the total. Macpherson made the breakthrough and then Saif Khan picked up the final wicket to secure a 13 run in the 46th over.
The 3rd XI were also on the road, this time to Barnton to take on RHC 2s. Skipper Brad McKay called correctly and also chose to bat first. Despite losing Adam Richardson and Ben Thurman early, Zaki Yusaf (79) and Anish Amin (46) were the mainstay of a healthy total of 215 for 8 from their 40 overs. In reply Mark McKay and Kyle Burgess took 3 wickets apiece and with skipper McKay chipping in with 1 to put the 3s firmly in control. A good fight back from the home team was ended with a run out and wickets from leggies Rory Ledingham & Thurman which sealed a 43 run win in the 37th over.
The 4th XI were at “home” at the Meadows to take on Edinburgh CC 3s. In a carnival atmosphere skipper Al Murray won the toss and chose to bowl first. 2 early wickets for Ben Stronach had the 4s in control at 25 for 2 after 10, but some wayward bowling let the visitors back into it. Fraser Kentish and Harry Charman picked up 2 wickets apiece and there was one for Oli Stones before the returning Stronach claimed the last 2 to bowl Edinburgh out for 119 in the 36th over. In the chase wickets fell at regular intervals but there were good contributions from David Simpson (20); Stronach (14) and Stones (11). In the 27th over the 4s were up against it at 85 for 8 but a fine 27* from Kentish steered the 4s home with plenty of overs but just a single wicket to spare.
The 5th XI travelled to Newfield Arti for their clash with Drummond Trinity 5s. Skipper Keith Murray won the toss and chose to bowl first. A miserly opening spell from Robbie Murray (5-5-0-0) well supported by Hamish Foley restricted the home side to 17 for 1 after 10. Gus Turner continued his fine form with the ball claiming 4 wickets and there was success for Rahul Khadse, Stu Dawson and Robbie Murray in his second spell plus a direct hit run out from James Stronach to restrict DTs to 87 for 9 from their 35 overs. In reply the skipper went early but Stronach (32) and Hamish Turner (34*) got the 5s within sight of the line before Stronach walked past one. Martin Robertson joined Turner Jnr and saw the 5s home with 8 wickets and 16 overs to spare.
On Sunday the 1st XI were in Scottish Cup second round action against Heriot’s. Tom Simpson lost the toss and the visitors chose to bat first. A strong opening partnership was eventually broken by Ruari Macpherson with the last ball before drinks with the score on 141. Arun Pillai picked up another the very next ball and then the home side took wickets at regular intervals to have the visitors 219 for 9 in the 46th over. The last few overs were productive for the visitors before Shiv Gupta claimed the last wicket in the 50th over to set the home side a target of 248 to win. In reply the home side were unable to forge any meaningful partnerships as wickets fell regularly. Simpson hit 24 and there was 29 for Ali Shah and 25* for Gupta but Carlton fell well short, being bowled out for 151 in the 40th over.
Also on Sunday the Women made the long journey to Gatehouse to take on Dumfries/Galloway. Skipper Annette Aitken-Drummond lost the toss and the home side elected to bat first. Abbi Aitken-Drummond took 2 wickets up top and then Zaara Dancu claimed the 3rd wicket. Janie Hemsley then got the prized wicket on Scotland player Lorna Jack and there were further success for Saskia Aldridge and Ashley Robertson plus a run out. Maisie Maceira then returned and took the last 3 wickets to bowl the home side out for 79 in the 22nd over. With the bat, openers Annette Aitken-Drummond and Charis Scott put on 45 for the first wicket before the skipper offered a return catch to Jack for 25. Dancu joined Scott and the pair saw Carlton home in the 14th over with Scott finishing on 35*.
Earlier in the day on Sunday the club fielded a Women’s 2nd XI for the very first time. The 2s travelled to Inverleith to take on Stewart’s Melville 2s in a T20 friendly. Led by Amelia Beattie the 2s fielded three debutants and batting first scored 80 for 5 from their 20 overs. Ajitha top scored with 24ret. The reply got off to a perfect start as Sonia took a wicket with the first ball of the innings. There were also wickets for Keira, Nyasha and Ajitha as the 2s closed out the win with some tight bowling and an overall strong performance in the field.
