Sunny Saturday

Weekend Sport – Sat 30th June. 1st XI Cricket

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Stewart’s Melville CC     180 all out   (47.5 overs);    Arbroath    183 for 6  (45.3 overs).

The second half of this year’s league programme opened with a visit from Arbroath who have a strong all round side and have been among the honours in recent seasons.   Arbroath won the toss and chose to field meaning we batted first for the third consecutive league match.   Kyle McCallum got the innings going with 27 runs (5 fours) from 29 balls and when he was out Shaylen Pillay came to the crease and was the mainstay of the innings with 76 in 89 balls, his best league score of the season.   Kris Steel (18), Steven Parker (13) and Greg Ruthven (16) all gave support without staying long enough for a big score.    In the end we reached a fairly competitive score for the pitch of 180 although it could have been more had we batted out our 50 overs.     In reply Arbroath reached 49 before losing their first wicket and with opening bat Ross McLean staying at the wicket for a patient innings of 76 in just over two and a half hours Arbroath were within sight of victory by the time he became the fifth wicket down well caught by Sam Tait off the bowling of Kris Steel.    School 1st XI player Sam Tait had a good all round day bowling ten overs for 33 runs, taking two catches (the opposition’s professional and their top scorer) and scoring 9 runs at the tail end of our innings.    Our efforts were rewarded with two bonus points on the  net run rate calculation which is of assistance in staying ahead of league rivals Glenrothes and still in sight of Watsonians above us.

Congratulations to the 2nd XI who had a rare victory against Heriots in East Division One.    Next Saturday it is the turn of the 1sts to visit Goldenacre on league business (12 noon start).

 

Weekend Sport Sat 23 June – Cricket

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Not a great day in terms of results for the Cricket Club – all four teams lost.   The 1st XI hosted unbeaten Grange who had five current or recent internationalists in their side in the East Premier League and without four regulars we chose to bat when the toss was won.    After reaching 39 for 1 with runs from Kris Steel (19) and Hayden Sweet (16) only Toby Hughes with 20 reached double figures and a final total of 86 in 37 overs was never enough to stretch our visitors who won for the loss of only one wicket.   The halfway point in the league has been reached with two wins achieved against Carlton and bottom placed team Glenrothes.    Saturday sees a visit from Arbroath who remain a strong team.

Weekend Sport Sat/Sun 16th/17th June – Cricket, Golf & Rugby.

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Cricket:   The heavy showers which affected the East of Scotland on Saturday resulted in a complete washout of East Premier League fixtures.    Our 1st XIs match with Watsonians at Myreside was one of the last to be called off by the officiating umpires in mid afternoon after much hanging about and World Cup football watching.   The monotony was relieved by the splendid Myreside tea supplied by the catering division of Heart of Midlothian FC – even our teams Hibs supporters were seen going back for seconds.   The cancellation leaves the 1st XI in 8th place with two wins above Watsonians (one win) and Glenrothes (no wins).

Golf:  While the Word’s attention was focused on the US Open in New York our own Grant Forrest had another successful week on the European Challenge tour in France tieing for the lead after the regulation 72 holes of strokeplay.  Unfortunately he lost out in the play-off for the winners cheque at the third extra hole but the ranking points gained elevated him to 7th place where the top fifteen at the end of the season obtain playing privileges on the full European Tour.

Rugby: Scotland suffered a surprise defeat by USA in the second Test match of their Americas tour by the narrowest of margins 30-29.    The Stew Mel interest was provided by George Turner winning his 5th cap who started for the first time and added a further try to the three he scored v Canada last week.

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 9th June. Cricket – second league win for 1st XI

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Cricket:    Glenrothes      163 all out;  Stewart’s Melville CC   164 for 5.

On what became a historic weekend for Scottish Cricket (Scotland defeated England at the Grange on Sunday) our 1st XI secured what for them was a significant second successive league win against Glenrothes on Saturday.

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Weekend Sport – Cricket. League win for 1st XI v Carlton

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Stewart’s Melville CC    138 all out (S Pillay 42, K McCallum 38, H Sweet 22);   Carlton   127 all out

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Weekend Sport – Cricket / Golf

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Hammad Azam (RHC)

Cricket:   RH Corstorphine   289 f0r 6;    Stew Mel   86 all out

Altogether a comprehensive loss for the 1sts on Saturday when on a hard pitch and fast outfield RHC responded to captain Greg Ruthven’s invitation to bat by putting on a huge score at almost a run a ball.  Pakistani professional Hammad Azam at no 4 top scored with 83 from only 62 balls but was well supported by Aussie Sam Flett (no 3) 77 from 93 balls and Elliot Foster (no 2) 68 from 83 balls.  Altogether RHC hit 28 fours and 2 sixes.   Stew Mel were never near the required rate and after reaching 49 for 1 in 11 overs only managed  86 all out in the 36th over.    Next up in the league is Carlton on Saturday.   Last Tuesday’s Masterton Trophy T20 match with Edinburgh CC at Campbell Park ended in an unlikely tie.

Golf:  Grant Forrest had another good finish on the PGA’s Challenge Tour tieing for 7th place in the Czech Republic with rounds of 68,68,71,68 (13 under par) and finishing with six birdies in his last 10 holes.

Cricket Club – 1st XI at Aberdeenshire Sat 19th May

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Stew Mel  103 all out;   Aberdeenshire  104-2.

Following a good performance at Ferguslie last Sunday and a T20 win over Edinburgh Accies on Thursday evening the 1st XI travelled to Aberdeen hopeful of a strong performance.   Theses hopes were rather undone when Hayden Sweet was caught behind first ball of the match and another three wickets fell quickly.  Michael Miller batting no 5 again did his best to rescue the situation with an innings of 38 lasting nearly two hours with four fours and a six but with Greg Ruthven the only other batsman to get into double figures a final total of 103 was not enough to trouble our hosts despite Shaylen Pillay also removing the opening bat first ball of the innings.   The end came in the 22nd over with Aberdeen two wickets down.

This week’s games are v Edinburgh CC at Campbell Park, Colinton on Tuesday evening in the T20 and against Corstorphine on Saturday at Inverleith (1pm).

Weekend Sport – Sat/Sun 12th/13th May. Cricket

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The Cricket Club had a double header of a weekend.   Saturday saw the visit on Premier League business of the highly rated Forfarshire side who included two of Scotland’s batsmen from the recent World Cup qualifying tournament.   Batting first the 1st XI totalled 128 in 40 overs and despite removing one the aforesaid batsmen Craig Wallace for no score the other Michael Leask scored an unbeaten 47 not out to take Forfarshire to a comfortable win.   On Sunday the club with two of the SMC school XI in the side travelled to Paisley to play this season’s leading West side Ferguslie in the Scottish Cup.   In glorious weather and batting first  Stew Mel scored 196 for 5  with outstanding innings from our overseas players Hayden Sweet (64) and Shaylen Pillay (54) helping us to our best score of the season.    Unfortunately after a promising start for SM  major contributions from the home side’s own overseas players enabled Ferguslie to pass our total with eight overs to go for the loss of six wickets – but a much better performance all round.

Past Cricket Club Presidents, Ross Wilkinson and Bert Barclay were the weekend’s match ball sponsors.

On Thursday evening at Inverleith (6pm) the 1st XI host Edinburgh Academicals in the T20 Masterton Trophy competition.

ALL STARS CRICKET

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All Stars Cricket started again on Friday 4 May at Inverleith.

The Club now has 83 boys and girls registered and this is the highest for any Club in Scotland

Budding stars of the future?

Women v Watsonians at Inch Park

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Edinburgh South / Stewart’s Melville  191-5 (K Fraser 68no, K Whyte 55, I Lowry 14no, C Holland 13) Watsonians  51-8

On a glorious day at Inch Park the home side were a bit too strong for a plucky Watsonians X1.

Kathryn White and Catherine Holland put together a match winning opening stand of 68 and from then on it was really a question of how big a total could be obtained in the 30 overs. Katherine Fraser cashed in  against the tiring bowlers with a sparkling 68 containing several boundaries and good contributions from Iona Lowry and Chloe Kiely helped us reach 191-5 in 30 overs.

In reply a nice catch by Emma Phipps off the bowling of Jessica Shaw dismissed Fettes girl Catherine Edwards and the remaining Watsonians batters found it tough against a very fine bowling attack. A 140 run victory was pleasing but sterner tasks lie ahead. That said I think it would have taken a good side to lower our colours on the day. It was really good to hear the thoughts on the match from our adult players and how impressed they were with our youngsters.

Catherine Holland had a fine all round game. Batting for almost an hour with Kathryn White was great experience for her and she showed no little skill in her fine innings. In addition Catherine bowled a couple of good overs and took a nice catch. As previously stated Jessica Shaw has a really bright future if she wishes. Her game awareness is good and she was the best bowler on show all day. Emma Phipps bowled 4 overs and bar 3 or 4 balls was excellent. Emma is a great member of the team and the older girls love her competitiveness.

It was a shame Emma’s mum Barbara didn’t bat as I think that will be her forte. Her enthusiasm in the field is also a great assett. Vailas Wrench also bowled 4 overs and gave very few runs away. Vaila has a really good action and will only improve. In her favour everyone loves a leftie in their bowling attack. It would be churlish to ignore the performances of Katherine Fraser and Chloe Kiely. Katherine is already a very fine all round cricketer at such a young age and Chloe is an automatic pick for our team.

Thanks to Kathryn, Hannah, Louise and Barbara for being so positive with the younger players and making our opening game in the Premier League so much fun.