Selkirk Cricket Club

IT was sunshine all the way for local primary schoolchildren lucky enough to find themselves at Selkirk Cricket Club’s picturesque Philiphaugh ground last Friday, where they took part in a special Cricket Festival being staged as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

“Things really couldn’t have gone any better,” said event organiser Neil Gentleman, chair of Selkirk Cricket Club. “For many children this was their first taste of the sport, and I think they all really enjoyed the experience.”

“The club is extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Selkirk for generously sponsoring the players’ t-shirts, while our thanks also go to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund for assisting with the cost of providing everyone with a packed lunch.”

On hand to help with the smooth running of the day was Cricket Scotland’s regional development officer for the east, Katie McGill (and current Scottish international player) . “This kind of event is a great way to introduce youngsters to the sport, and the players clearly had a fun time.”

Another key figure at the event was Live Borders’ active schools co-ordinator, Karen Cornwall, who had been responsible for ensuring all the local schools had the chance to enter teams. “Things have gone really well,” said Karen, “and hopefully this will be the forerunner for similar events in the future.”

Other volunteers for the day included club vice captain Kenny Paterson and first team players Adam Murphy, Harry Murphy and Ellie Wilkie. Thanks also to junior coach Cara Paterson and Matilda Gentleman for their help on the day, not least of all with distributing lunches to the hungry participants!

SELKIRK returned to winning ways on Saturday with a satisfying 65-run victory over Broomhall in the teams’ East League Division 3 fixture.

Vice-captain Kenny Paterson returned to the home side after injury and, alongside fellow opener Greg Fenton, helped get the hosts off to a flying start with an opening partnership of 53.

Fenton was bowled by Neil Millar (2-21) but Paterson was immovable and reached his 50 with a flick to midwicket and rapturous acclaim from spectators sitting in the sunshine.

Michael Fenton (29) and Rory Banks (21) kept the scoreboard ticking over and the hosts eventually posted a decent target of 166 for the visitors to chase.

Ieuan Ward was the pick of the Broomhall bowlers with 2-21, removing Paterson and Banks in consecutive overs.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Broomhall were top points scorers in the league and even though they lost an early wicket, the visitors’ batsmen looked in the mood to chase down the 166 target set by Selkirk.

The hosts proved up for the challenge and Broomhall found runs difficult to come by. Opener Ieuan Ward looked capable of single-handedly winning the game, and may have had more runs but for the fine efforts of fielders in the deep.

When Paterson took the key wicket of Scott Lucas, caught behind by Greg Fenton, the pressure on Ward to stay there increased. The opener moved past 50 but was taking risks to maintain the run rate and was pinned LBW by Greg Fenton (2-8), attempting a reverse sweep.

The visitors’ run rate plummeted as David Gardiner (2-5) made an immediate impression in his league comeback, while it was a red letter day for Alex Beveridge, taking his first wicket for the club with his very first ball to dismiss Broomhall on 100 runs.

Selkirk hit the road this weekend for a game against Division 3 frontrunners Murrayfield DAFS, while on Monday evening make the short trip across to Meigle Park for a Border 20/20 Cup fixture against old rivals Gala.

Spectators Welcome! All local primary schools will be represented and have the opportunity to win the ‘Inter Schools Trophy’.

SELKIRK slumped to a 72-run East League Division 3 defeat at the hands of Drummond Trinity II in Edinburgh on Saturday.

An East of Scotland Premier League fixture was being played simultaneously in front of the impressive pavilion at Goldenacre, and one difference which stood out was the different sounds emanating from each of the pitches. In the premier league contest, cries of ‘catch it’ were inevitably followed by raucous shouts of acclaim. In the Division 3 match, however, increasingly despondent groans could be heard as fielders spilled the ball. The hosts missed a few chances, but the visitors were profligate.

Selkirk can probably reflect that, despite dropped catches, they probably edged the first 20 overs of this match. R. Banks (3-21) had taken three wickets in his first four overs and A.Murphy (2-31) was also getting some reward for his efforts having taken 2 wickets in his first three overs. Ironically there were three good catches taken, two by G.Fenton and a sharp catch taken at first slip by J.Hughes. The souters had some regrets but with Drummond Trinity at 56 for 6 they were in a strong position. The hosts rallied after drinks and consecutive partnerships of 37 and 34 for the 7^th and 8^th wickets enabled them to get to 142 from 36.5 overs. R.Banks took an excellent catch running round the boundary to remove the final wicket. Batting down at No.8, Dawood Khan top scored with 28. 

The hosts made a similarly positive start to their turn with the ball with the erratic Khan (2-21) taking both G.Fenton and M.Fenton with two of his better balls which nipped away, both batters edging to the wicketkeeper for 9 runs. R.Banks was the only Selkirk player to get to double figures on the day and probably regretted the choice of shot at an unremarkable delivery from Pamarthi (2-13). At drinks Selkirk were at an almost identical position to their hosts, struggling at 57 runs for 6 wickets.  

However, whereas four lower order batsmen had all reached double figures for Drummond Trinity, the Selkirk tail added just 8 runs. Having scored 25 with the bat, and taken three catches behind the stumps, A.Fraz took off his wicketkeeping pads and bowled what was to be the last over, consisting of: two wides, two dot balls, two runs off the bat and two wickets. Fittingly the last play of the game included a large shout from the Drummond Trinity players to ‘catch it’. S.Babul positioned himself under the high ball and took the catch with ease. Catches win matches.

Selkirk Travel to Melrose on Wednesday evening for a Border 20/20 fixture and return to Philiphaugh on Saturday for the visit of Division 3 top points scorers Broomhall.  

Selkirk secured a seven wicket victory over local rivals Hawick on a bright Thursday evening at Philiphaugh. The hosts won the toss and asked the teries to bat.  

The visitors never quite got going but hirpled to 60 runs with the final wicket falling on the penultimate ball. The top bowling figures went to Kieran Toor (3-6) taking all of his three wickets in four balls. Blaine Gillie (2-9) removed Hawick top scorer E.Alexander (16) with his first ball of two interesting overs, taking his second wicket with a ball which pitched in front of his feet and looped underneath the bat of G.Welsh. The souters captain G.Fenton dropped a difficult over the shoulder catch early in the innings but made up with it with a hat-trick of catches in the deep. He was however upstaged for stylish catches by Toor who took a diving one handed catch fielding at point.  

In reply the Selkirk captain opened the innings with a flicked six to the leg boundary. It provided notice of a blistering captains knock by G.Fenton (44), including 4 sixes, which took the game beyond Hawick. R.Pringle proved difficult for the Selkirk top order and took two wickets for 5 runs. However the game was gone for the visitors and M.Fenton(7) finished it off with a 4 hooked to the mid wicket boundary.  

Being Selkirk’s only fixture against Hawick & Wilton this season, the Ronnie Simpson memorial trophy was up for grabs. Having spent the year over at Buccleuch Park, it was satisfying to see the Fletcher statuette returned to the Philiphaugh trophy cabinet in this the club’s special anniversary year.

SELKIRK – G. Fenton, K. Paterson, M. Fenton, B. Wilkinson,  I. Gardiner, B. Gillie, A. McNeil, A. Beveridge,  A. Murphy,  J. Hughes, K. Singhtoor.