SELKIRK returned to winning ways on Saturday with a satisfying 65-run victory over Broomhall in the teams’ East League Division 3 fixture.
Vice-captain Kenny Paterson returned to the home side after injury and, alongside fellow opener Greg Fenton, helped get the hosts off to a flying start with an opening partnership of 53.
Fenton was bowled by Neil Millar (2-21) but Paterson was immovable and reached his 50 with a flick to midwicket and rapturous acclaim from spectators sitting in the sunshine.
Michael Fenton (29) and Rory Banks (21) kept the scoreboard ticking over and the hosts eventually posted a decent target of 166 for the visitors to chase.
Ieuan Ward was the pick of the Broomhall bowlers with 2-21, removing Paterson and Banks in consecutive overs.
Prior to Saturday’s game, Broomhall were top points scorers in the league and even though they lost an early wicket, the visitors’ batsmen looked in the mood to chase down the 166 target set by Selkirk.
The hosts proved up for the challenge and Broomhall found runs difficult to come by. Opener Ieuan Ward looked capable of single-handedly winning the game, and may have had more runs but for the fine efforts of fielders in the deep.
When Paterson took the key wicket of Scott Lucas, caught behind by Greg Fenton, the pressure on Ward to stay there increased. The opener moved past 50 but was taking risks to maintain the run rate and was pinned LBW by Greg Fenton (2-8), attempting a reverse sweep.
The visitors’ run rate plummeted as David Gardiner (2-5) made an immediate impression in his league comeback, while it was a red letter day for Alex Beveridge, taking his first wicket for the club with his very first ball to dismiss Broomhall on 100 runs.
Selkirk hit the road this weekend for a game against Division 3 frontrunners Murrayfield DAFS, while on Monday evening make the short trip across to Meigle Park for a Border 20/20 Cup fixture against old rivals Gala.
