SELKIRK proved too strong for visitors Milngavie on Saturday, recording an 81-run victory in a 30-over friendly played on Philiphaugh’s artificial wicket.
Openers Michael Fenton and Ian Gardiner stood up well to the visiting bowlers, who will have rued some early missed chances.
Selkirk reached 57 from the first 10 overs, skipper-for-the day Fenton crashing a straight four over the bowler’s head to reach his 50, but fell three balls later to Kumar. Brodie then removed Gardiner (24), leaving Selkirk 81 for two at drinks.
When play resumed Rory Banks was dropped in the deep off the bowling of Brodie, and this was to prove an expensive mistake. Kieran Toor played patiently at the other end while Banks rattled up his half-century in 33 balls.
The free-scoring Banks soon began to run out of overs in which to reach his second century of the season. Harry Murphy added 10 runs to the total in a brief cameo appearance, but Banks was the star of the show, reaching 91 at the close of the innings, leaving the tourists needing 196 for victory.
Milngavie openers Dennis and Busby looked capable of setting the right pace, before Daniel Heard struck in his fourth over, Dennis lobbing the ball to mid-off where Murphy was on his toes to pouch a diving catch.
Michael Fenton removed the other opener in the next over, but the high run rate meant Milngavie were still in touch. The new batsmen then raised some concerns when both hit top bowler Heard for six.
In his next over Heard almost had his revenge, but Sindal was dropped in the deep going for a repeat of his six from the previous over.
At drinks Milngavie were still in the game but needed to up the pace. With Rory Banks and John Henderson now bowling, the visitors began to take risks. Banks struck first, removing Sindal, before Henderson trapped Islam LBW.
Selkirk shared out the bowling, with all but one of their eight bowlers ending up amongst the wickets: the highlight being a quicker ball from spinner Toor, tearing through Morrison’s defence to hit the stumps.
Toor then took his second, and Milngavie’s final, wicket, leaving the visitors 81 runs short of their target after 29 overs.