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

 

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).