Selkirk Cricket Club

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.

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.

Despite a battling half-century by talented all-rounder Michael Fenton, Selkirk still came up short in Saturday’s East League Division 3 match against Marchmont 2 at Cavalry Park, falling to a 40-run defeat.

Selkirk won the toss and gave Marchmont first use of the wicket, and an early run-out saw the host club in trouble at 12-1. However, a 69-run partnership between Alex Bushell (33) and stylish left-hander Savan Panchal (44) then swung the game back Marchmont’s way, boosted by smart running between the wickets.

With three of their front-line bowlers unavailable, Selkirk found it difficult to make inroads into Marchmont’s top order – a sprinkling of dropped catches and the concession of 16 wides not helping their cause.

Selkirk’s bowlers had more luck towards the end of the home innings, skipper Greg Fenton (3-35), Shaun Wilkinson (2-35), Bob Wilkinson (1-39) and Gregor Borthwick (1-5) all picking up wickets.

At the end of their 40 overs, Marchmont 2 had reached 185-9.

In reply, Selkirk suffered an early setback when opener Greg Fenton was run out with the score on 13.

Kenny Paterson (22) and Michael Fenton (54) then set about repairing the damage, putting together a solid 75-run stand to keep the visitors’ hopes alive.

Michael Fenton’s fine knock (which included five fours and two sixes), came to an unfortunate end when a ball from Akash Chatterjee cut back sharply and kept extremely low to send the bails flying.

Although Ewan Torrance (20) and Bob Wilkinson (12) tried hard to boost Selkirk’s flagging run rate, more wickets tumbled, leaving them needing 50 runs off the last five overs, and the final three wickets all fell in the 38th over with the score on 145.

Marchmont’s best bowlers were Saxena (3-36), Sachdeva (3-35) and Chatterjee (2-28).

The match was played in warm sunshine and in an excellent sporting spirit, and special mentions must go to Michael Gillie and Murray Marr, both called into the Selkirk side at late notice, and who both gave of their best.

This Saturday, June 28th, Selkirk will be hoping to have all their best players available for the visit to Philiphaugh of unbeaten league leaders Kirk Brae.

Match report and photos by John Smail.