Following the previous weekend’s outstanding win over league leaders Leith FAB, Selkirk’s players were brought back to earth on Saturday at Philiphaugh, where Edinburgh’s Royal High Corstorphine 3 recorded a deserved 37-run victory.
The visitors elected to bat after winning the toss, with the home wicket in excellent condition despite Friday night’s downpours – Selkirk’s new pitch covers proving their worth at the first time of asking.
However, the city team’s players must have been questioning their skipper’s decision, after a flurry of early wickets saw RHC slump to 36/5 after 16 overs.
Once again it was Selkirk opening bowler Michael Fenton (3/17) who emerged as the home side’s executioner-in-chief. The ex-captain snapped up three wickets for the second consecutive Saturday, pouching two catches for good measure.
Opener Yasser Ali (26) was the visitors’ only top five batter to reach double figures, and when he eventually fell to first change bowler David Gardiner (2/30), Selkirk looked ideally placed to take control of the contest.
However, such hopes soon evaporated as RHC’s lower order batters threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the home side’s bowling attack.
S. Aziz (31), G. Falzi (23), A. Wafa (14) and H. Sahil (10) regularly scored with sixes and fours, adding an extra 96 runs to take RHC to a total of 132 all out.
Selkirk’s other wicket-takers were Daniel Heard (1/31) and Rory Banks (2/3).
In reply, the home side got off to a flying start – Greg Fenton (25) getting on top of the RHC bowlers and showing his usual deft touches around the ground. However, following his dismissal the Selkirk innings began to implode.
No fewer than five ducks were eventually recorded in the home innings, and had it not been for another typically gutsy knock by Michael Fenton (41*), Selkirk’s final total of 95 could have been much, much lower.
Unfortunately he ran out of partners, which means Selkirk now drop from fourth to seventh in the East League Division 3 table.
Royal High Corstorphine’s best bowlers on the day were A. Wafa (3/7), S. Aziz (3/8), H. Sahil (2/23) and A. Mohammed (1/6).
This Wednesday, 28th May, Selkirk entertain Melrose at home for an evening 20-over Border League match, and on Saturday, May 31, the Philiphaugh side travel to take on Marchmont 2 at Duddingston Road.
Match report and photos by John Smail.