With 10 overs remaining of the Kirk Brae innings at Philiphaugh on Saturday, Selkirk’s bowling attack looked to have the Division 3 leaders in trouble at 118-7.
However, they’d reckoned without the power hitting of visiting skipper Aafaque Hussain. Coming in at No. 7, his captain’s innings of 66 not out, from just 54 deliveries, turbo-charged the city side’s total to 197-9, a far more formidable total.
Despite an inspired half-century knock by Selkirk’s Michael Fenton – his second of the season – the Souters’ run chase fell 61 runs short, ending their chances of moving off bottom place in the league table.
reaching his half-century
An aggressive innings of 51 by Kirk Brae opener Muhammad Umer Asif anchored the first half of his team’s tenure at the crease, with Hussain’s lively cameo after the drinks interval taking the visitors’ total to just shy of the 200-run mark.
Selkirk’s wicket-takers were Greg Fenton (3-32), David Gardiner (3-37), Rory Banks (2-30) and Michael Fenton (1-34).
An unfortunate incident occurred in the early part of Selkirk’s innings, when a full toss from Gopi Nayak hit opener Greg Fenton just below his helmet. The match was briefly stopped, and although Greg recovered to stay at the crease, he lost his wicket soon afterwards having scored 13 runs.
Michael Fenton (61) continued to battle hard to try and keep Selkirk in the game, but of the remaining home batters only Blaine Gillie (13*) and Ewan Torrance (11) managed to reach double figures, with Selkirk finishing on 136 all out.
Wadood (2-24), Nayak (2-23), Rehman (2-17), Malik (2-16) and Hussain (1-28) were Kirk Brae’s wicket-takers.
This Friday, July 3, Selkirk face Gala in a Border T20 Cup tie at Meigle Park, and on the following day entertain Tranent & Preston Village 2 at Philiphaugh in an East League Division 3 fixture.
Match report and photos by John Smail.