The pitch at Roseburn had not benefitted from the recent fine weather and turned out to be a leveller, making a significant contribution to a low scoring close finish. The uneven bounce was a match for openers on both sides reducing the game to a grind for both batting sides. When the first low bounce shot underneath the bat of MDAFs Raman (6) to dislodge the bails, bowlers would be excused for looking to bowl from the far end, running away from the imposing North Stand at Murrayfield. The reliable MDAFs opener, Cardwell Moore (14) was also surprised by the bounce to scoop the ball to mid on where Singhtoor took his first catch in senior cricket. The hosts, struggling at 45 for 6, made better progress when Tyugi (27) came in at number 7 and he would have carried the bat had he not attempted an unnecessary second on the final ball of the innings.
Having reduced Murrayfield to 45 for 6 at 23 overs the visitors will have been disappointed to let MDAFs get to 92. Selkirk knew that getting the runs would be a challenge and two early wickets gave the hosts hope, especially as this included the departure (LBW) of in form G.Fenton (8) who was undone, as others, by a low shooter bowled from the far end. Despite this, Selkirk had trundled to 69 for 3 at 20 overs and looked well on the way to grinding out the runs required but Gardiner (24) was bowled in the next over. A calamitous collapse, including the obligatory farcical run out, saw the game ended with Selkirk dismissed for 84, 8 short of a third straight victory. Scorebook
‘Extras’ (42) was the easy top scorer on a day where the most impatient player on each team top scored respectively; Gardiner for Selkirk and Tyugi for MDAFs. Both were guilty of outrageous swings and misses but managed to give either side some momentum when they came in to bat.
With only 4 batsmen in double figures, 7 LBW decisions and all 20 wickets down it was easy to see that this was a day for the bowlers. For MDAFs Tyugi was the most dangerous bowler taking 2 wickets at key times, allowing only 13 runs off of his 8 overs. Dow can claim top figures of 3 for 12, bowling at the tailenders, taking a great catch above his head off of his own bowling to remove Henderson. For Selkirk Banks removed four of the first five batsmen to finish with 4 for 14. While Gardiner completed a decent all round performance, with miserly figures of 2 for 6 from his 6 overs, he will probably regret that he didn’t see it through with the bat as he watched the tail flounder.
Selkirk have two all border home fixtures this week, Kelso visiting on Thursday (20/20) and Hawick travelling to Philiphaugh on Saturday (Division 3).