In the final round of fixtures for the first half of the season Selkirk hosted high flying Bass Rock at Philiphaugh on Saturday and were ultimately outmatch as their visitors returned to North Berwick with full points.
The Selkirk team who took on league leaders Bass Rock at Philiphaugh. Back row, from left – I. Gardiner, T. Dekker, R. Banks, K. Paterson, G. Fenton, I. Purves. Front – B. Wilkinson, D. Gardiner, M. Fenton (capt.), B. Gillie, G. Borthwick.
The East Lothian side won the toss and put the souters in to bat. There were glimmers of starts for most of the top order but the introduction of spinners Thomas Cullen (3-9) and Gus Fraser Harris saw the demise of the top 4. In consequetive overs G.Fenton (9) and David Gardiner (12) fell L.B.W. and bowled respectively. Cullen then had took the wickets of both Todd Dekker (17) and Rory Banks (16) as they looked to make progress. Dekker was caught a couple of yards inside the square leg boundary and Banks was sent packing by a fantastic catch taken at first slip.
Marcus Lyall replaced Fraser Harris and duly delivered the wickets of Blaine Gillie (4) and captain Michael Fenton (19) leaving the hosts well short of a competitive total at 85-4. It took a stubborn performance from Iain Gardiner (15) and Bob Wilkinson (30) who came together with 9 overs remaining, to give Selkirk a chance. Gardiner grew in confidence and took runs when he could and Wilkinson played the heavy hitting role when he could. Adding 48 runs was essential to give the hosts a chance against a side with 4 batters in the top 10 of Division 3 run scorers.
Bob Wilkinson, who was Selkirk’s top scorer with 30 not out, pulls strongly to leg.
Ex-Scotland internationalist opens the batting for Bass Rock and defended well against Greg Fenton (1-8) in the first few overs. Salmond’s opening partner Michael Hagan didn’t face a ball from Fenton until the 6th over and fell on the next delivery when the bowler took a sharp catch straight back at him. Salmond was joined by Fraser Harris who also struggled to get Fenton away edging the ball through the slip area on a couple of occasions. When Blaine Gillie (1-24) trspped Salmond L.B.W. in the 13th over confidence was high in the field.
Greg Fenton gives it his all, finishing up with the excellent bowling analysis of 6-4-1-8.
However, Nick Murden (27) replaced Salmond and defended well and played most of his scoring shots with solid drives to wide mid off. On the day Fraser Harris (56) was the stand out bat and scored at pace which meant that by the time he lost his wicket the visitors were a couple of big shots short of their target of 133. Cullen provided the finishing touch off the first ball of the 36th over, smashing the ball for 4 to the mid wicket boundary.
Selkirk need to dust themselves down and get ready for a border double header this week with the visit of St. Boswells on Thursday evening for a 20/20 game (6pm start) and another home game against Hawick on Saturday (12pm start)
Saturday’s match was sponsored by Suzy Gollan, of the Filling Station, Selkirk. She is pictured handing the match ball to Selkirk skipper Michael Fenton.
Selkirk Cricket Club 