Hawick came out top in the annual 20/20 fixture with Selkirk at Buccleuch Park, taking the Ronnie Simpson Memorial Trophy with a 32-run victory.
It was a pitch for the bowlers, with each side being dismissed with overs to spare, and no batter on either side looking safe. Both teams only managed a total of 78 scoring shots from 224 deliveries. Harris Brogan (32) and Ryan Johnston (28) did manage to thump a few boundaries, setting a target of 106 for the visitors to win.
In the end, the Hawick pair proved the difference, with only Rory Banks (18) and Daniel Heard (18*) reaching double figures for the Souters, who were all out for 73.
It was a game to warm the cricketing heart and had a ‘village cricket’ feel to it, with flashes of talent and a range of ages, fitness and abilities on show.
In a game that they lost, Selkirk could easily claim to have the star of the show in nine-year-old (yes, nine!) Michael Gillie, who finished with the night’s top bowling figures of 4-9, including three wickets in five balls to end the Hawick innings.
That three of the wicket balls beat the batsman tells of his accuracy, while his other wicket came via an excellent catch by Greg Fenton on the square leg boundary.
Meanwhile Jamie Hughes (3-31) had an effective evening with the ball, creating the drama of a hat-trick delivery. As expected the fielders surrounded the batter – the ball was straight and on target, but a solid defensive shot spread the field again.
For Hawick & Wilton, the relatively ancient 19-year-old Euan Stevenson (3-10) showed talent to take three wickets in six balls to finish off the Selkirk tail.
Robbie Pringle will also be satisfied with his bowling, three wickets for three runs. This included the key wicket of Banks, which gave the spectators their champagne moment – Evan Alexander, running in from the deep midwicket boundary, showed quick feet and safe hands, diving forward to take an exemplar catch.
Match report by Neil Gentleman, with photos by John Smail.