Selkirk hold all the aces against Milngavie tourists

Michael Fenton presents Milngavie skipper Jim Brodie with Selkirk CC’s 150^th anniversary plaque and a club tie prior to the start of Saturday’s match

SELKIRK proved too strong for visitors Milngavie on Saturday, recording an 81-run victory in a 30-over friendly played on Philiphaugh’s artificial wicket.

Openers Michael Fenton and Ian Gardiner stood up well to the visiting bowlers, who will have rued some early missed chances.

Selkirk reached 57 from the first 10 overs, skipper-for-the day Fenton crashing a straight four over the bowler’s head to reach his 50, but fell three balls later to Kumar. Brodie then removed Gardiner (24), leaving Selkirk 81 for two at drinks.  

When play resumed Rory Banks was dropped in the deep off the bowling of Brodie, and this was to prove an expensive mistake. Kieran Toor played patiently at the other end while Banks rattled up his half-century in 33 balls.

The free-scoring Banks soon began to run out of overs in which to reach his second century of the season. Harry Murphy added 10 runs to the total in a brief cameo appearance, but Banks was the star of the show, reaching 91 at the close of the innings, leaving the tourists needing 196 for victory. 

Milngavie openers Dennis and Busby looked capable of setting the right pace, before Daniel Heard struck in his fourth over, Dennis lobbing the ball to mid-off where Murphy was on his toes to pouch a diving catch.

Michael Fenton removed the other opener in the next over, but the high run rate meant Milngavie were still in touch. The new batsmen then raised some concerns when both hit top bowler Heard for six.

In his next over Heard almost had his revenge, but Sindal was dropped in the deep going for a repeat of his six from the previous over.  

At drinks Milngavie were still in the game but needed to up the pace. With Rory Banks and John Henderson now bowling, the visitors began to take risks. Banks struck first, removing Sindal, before Henderson trapped Islam LBW.

Selkirk shared out the bowling, with all but one of their eight bowlers ending up amongst the wickets: the highlight being a quicker ball from spinner Toor, tearing through Morrison’s defence to hit the stumps.

Toor then took his second, and Milngavie’s final, wicket, leaving the visitors 81 runs short of their target after 29 overs.

SPIRITED SHOWING BY SELKIRK SEALS VITAL VICTORY OVER PROMOTION RIVALS

SELKIRK put further pressure on second placed Murrayfield DAFS II at the top of East League Division 3 following a pulsating victory over the city side at Philiphaugh.

The Selkirk team who defeated Murrayfield DAFS II at Philiphaugh on Saturday. Back row, from left: H. Murphy, R. Banks, J. Hughes, K. Paterson, K. Toor, Colin Gardiner. Front: B. Gillie, A. Beveridge, G. Fenton (capt.), M. Fenton, D. Heard.

The visitors asked Selkirk to bat after winning the toss, and openers Greg Fenton and Harry Murphy found runs hard to come by. Fenton’s was the first wicket to fall in the 13th over, the home skipper being bowled by off-spinner Patrick Andrews (2-41) for a carefully compiled 33.

Andrews dismissed Michael Fenton (24) a few overs later, and at drinks Selkirk had reached 79-2. Murphy (18) and Rory Banks (14) looked set to make some progress but both succumbed to R. Mohammed, who went on to finish as the visitors’ top bowler with 4 for 23. Selkirk would add a meagre, but ultimately vital, 36 runs in the final 15 overs for a modest total of 135 for eight.

Despite losing a couple of early wickets, Murrayfield DAFS II looked the most likely winners as opener Mulholland (30) and Peters (21) proved a dangerous combination – the latter hitting a huge six to cow corner off Kenny Paterson. However, Peters was caught flat-footed by Rory Banks in the next over, out LBW.

Chinni (44) and Mulholland got things back on track for Murrayfield, until Greg Fenton brought himself on to bowl and bent back Mulholland’s stumps in his second over. Opening bowler Michael Fenton (2-32) then returned to the fray, with Chinni helping himself to 15 runs from the first two overs of his spell, including a majestic six back over the bowler’s head.

With the visitors six wickets down, the Souters continued to keep up the pressure. With his dander now up, Michael Fenton out-thought Murrayfield batsman Chinni, who mistimed a quicker delivery and sent the ball high to extra cover. The ever-reliable Blaine Gillie, running round from mid-off, took the difficult catch to change the momentum of the match.

The visitors only managed to add seven runs for the final three wickets, falling short of their target by 22 runs.

Banks (3-16) and Greg Fenton (4-9) shared seven wickets for the loss of 25 runs. Despite some earlier drops, some fine catches were taken towards the end of the match, including an excellent one-handed diving effort from Michael Fenton (now behind the stumps) and the match-winner catch by vice-captain Kenny Paterson.

Selkirk will need to show all of the fight they displayed on Saturday to Edinburgh next week, where they face a Grange III team also on the rise in Division 3.

Selkirk victorious in the Kingdom

Selkirk travelled to Fife on Saturday and came away with 20 points which keep them in contention for promotion from Division 3. It was a long day for the souters with both teams batting out their 40 overs. 

G.Fenton scored 113 runs and took 3 vital wickets for a classy all round performance

The hosts won the toss and asked Selkirk to bat. Captain Greg Fenton and Harry Murphy made a solid start, and both scored easily until Murphy (20) edged a good delivery from Millar (2-24) with the total on 70 from 15 overs.

Greg Fenton posted his half-century with a six into an adjoining property’s garden, taking him 60 deliveries. However he only needed another 24 to reach his century, smashing 21 runs off one over alone (including 3 sixes).

Michael Fenton reached his 50 in smart time and was looking set to follow the captain’s lead but fell to I. Ward (2-46), edging behind to J. Hynd. The Broomhall keeper took three catches on the day, including a spectacular effort to remove Kieran Toor, diving full-stretch to his right.

Selkirk’s second wicket partnership had added 107 runs to the total, and Broomhall players were relieved to see the back of the visiting skipper when he eventually fell to Millar having scored 113.

Blaine Gillie (14) drove his first ball through the covers for four and also hit the last two balls of the innings to the boundary, setting the Fifers 232 to win.

Broomhall began well and saw off Selkirk’s opening bowlers, looking comfortable on the artificial wicket (now it was the Souters’ turn to hunt among the nettles for balls hit into the wooded area beside the ground).

Vice-captain Kenny Paterson came on as first change, taking a wicket in his very first over. Greg Fenton then took the vital wickets of Lucas and Millar, both caught behind by Michael Fenton.

A stubborn 53-run partnership between Hynd and Gudgin frustrated the visitors, but Jamie Hughes completed his full house of one run, one catch and one wicket when he bowled Breen.

Daniel Heard added some sparkle to his figures in his second spell, taking the last three wickets for seven runs. Broomhall were all out for 155, some 77 runs short of their target. 

Selkirk host Murrayfield DAFS 2nds at Philiphaugh this Saturday in a top of the table clash, the Edinburgh side sitting above the Souters in second place of Division 3.

Selkirk Bowlers Dominate to set up victory.

Magnificent bowling from Selkirk on Saturday saw them secure a seven wicket victory over Drummond Trinity II.

Stuart Tait, of Tait Motorcare, Dunsdale Road, kindly sponsored the match ball for Selkirk’s home game against Drummond Trinity II on Saturday. He is pictured presenting the ball to Selkirk vice-skipper Kenny Paterson prior to the match getting under way. Paterson finished with four wickets on a day where all of the home bowlers were on form.

Selkirk lost the toss and the visitors chose to bat. From the outset the visitors were finding it difficult against the opening bowlers. While M.Fenton was beating the bat at one end, D.Heard picked up a wicket in each of his first three overs. The visiting side were hopeful that a bowling change would be in their favour but Banks and Paterson were equally effective. When I.Gardiner took his second catch of the day to remove Anwar things were not looking good for the Edinburgh side.

Now at the crease, Koti and Nasir were a dangerous pairing, the latter visiting Philiphaugh on the back of scoring 68 runs the previous week and the former with something to prove having been dropped down from the 1^st XI this week. It was to be the home bowlers day however and Banks bowled Nasir in his third over. By drinks Drummond Trinity were struggling at 45 for 6.

There was no complacency from the souters and after drinks Paterson bowled out his final four overs for just 2 runs and took two further wickets, finishing with 4 for 17. The innings was over in the 29^th over when D.Heard took his fourth wicket of the day to finish with top figures for the day, 4 for 11, cementing his position as the top bowler in Division 3.

In reply, G.Fenton was full of intent from the outset, looking to score quickly. Murphy played at a wide ball and was caught behind bringing M.Fenton to the crease. Both looked determined to finish the game quickly and did give the visiting side some chances in the field. By the time G.Fenton (34) was out LBW to Veeramachaneni the score was at 58 and the job was almost done so even when M.Fenton (21) gave an easy catch to Arepelly at mid on the game was done and Banks knocked off the last 6 runs with some ease.

Selkirk travel to Fife next week for a tough fixture against the unpredictable Broomhall, who have only lost a couple of games at home this season.

Selkirk captain Greg Fenton presents a club plaque to Drummond Trinity II skipper Hassan Anwar at Philiphaugh on Saturday. To celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the club’s move to the ground in 1872, Selkirk is presenting commemorative plaques to all of the teams visiting Philiphaugh this season.

CLUB BLAZERS TO MAKE REAPPEARANCE AT PHILIPHAUGH

The club has been in touch with Ipswich firm Club Colours Ltd with a view to the company producing some traditional Selkirk CC blazers – using the same design and material as those being worn in the photos below by Neil & Roy, and by Selkirk’s 1905 Border League-winning side. The firm would produce a new bolt of material, then make up the jackets to each individual buyer’s measurements. Depending on the number of orders, the cost would be £228 per blazer. Would anyone who’d like to order a Selkirk club blazer please get in touch with John Smail (01750 21616), so he can get an idea whether this is going to be a viable proposition. Many thanks.