Selkirk open with narrow defeat

The season finally got going for the souters on Saturday with a trip to Edinburgh to take on Marchmont II. It ended up being a very long day for the visitors with ultimately little in the way of reward as they fell 6 runs short of victory.

Selkirk XI at Marchmont (Left to right – B.Wilkinson, S.Wilkinson, A.Massie, Sathiya Abi Jayan, D.Karthikeyan, M.Fenton (Captain), K.Toor, G.Fenton, I.Gardiner, B.Gillie, D.Heard)

Selkirk lost the toss and were asked to bowl and had a number of opportunities in the early overs but a series of edges to slip were put down and the opening batters took advantage.

The first wicket did not fall until the 13th over when B.Eagar (26) holed out to Bob Wilkinson at deep mid off and the other opener followed in the next over as B.Gillie had M.Ahmed (17) adjudged L.B.W.

The pace of scoring was modest but the home top scorer, H.Ramachandra (35), gave it some impetus with the shot of the day, a straight 6 back over the bowlers head. The 25 runs scored in the last 4 overs proved decisive in the end and this was down, in no small measure, to G.Ilsley (26) who managed a couple of boundaries in the closing overs. Selkirk were set 146 to win.

In response the visitors kept pace with their hosts but lost openers G.Fenton (19) and K.Toor(6) in succesive overs and I.Gardiner fell shortly thereafter without scoring.

It took a captains innings and solid support from lower order batters to put Selkirk in a position to score an unlikely victory. The souters captain M.Fenton (65) played patiently and was partnered ably by B.Gillie (22) to share a partnership lasting almost 23 overs and accumulating 68 runs.

With three overs remaining Selkirk needed a run a ball but the home bowlers finished strongly. Although somewhat erratic, J.Small (3-28) proved the match winner with 3 wickets in 8 balls (all bowled). Finally finding his line and length, Small removed first the captain and then father/son double of Bob and Shaun Wilkinson with the last two balls.

The first home league game of the season next Saturday sees Haddington come to Philiphaugh. We look forward to welcoming members and visitors. The game is due to start at 1pm but please keep an eye on the website for any changes.