Selkirk cricketers host Hawick this week on the back of a frustrating performance against Tranent and Preston Village on Saturday. A 23 run loss doesn’t sound too bad but having reduced their visitors to 46 runs for 7 wickets there was an expectation for those watching that there was going to be an early successful conclusion. However, the East Lothian side hirpled through the full 40 overs, losing their final wicket on the last ball, to set a modest target of 101 for the souters.
The stand out bowler for the third week in succession was Daniel Heard (3-25) but nobody failed with the ball and Greg Fenton 2-11 and Rory Banks 2-10 will have been pleased with their performance. Ganti achieved an unlikely half century having first been injured early in the innings and then being dropped in single figures.
In 150 years of cricket at Philiphaugh the batting performance of the souters on Saturday wont rank high and ultimately decided the outcome of this fixture. Five batsmen failed to score and the lower order added few runs.
More than any other sport, cricket is a game with multiple individual opportunities to have an impact and having failed with the bat Patel stepped up with a match winning performance with the ball. His accuracy was highlighted by 4 bowled dismissals to finish with 5 for 23 from his 8 overs, including a double wicket maiden to conclude the match. He was also involved in the dismissal of Selkirk’s top score M.Fenton (27) taking one of his two catches for the day.
Selkirk’s innings was ended in 25 overs. They will need to dust themselves down and refocus for the Teries visit on Thursday evening and then a Saturday league fixture at Goldenacre on Saturday.