Gala retained the Rae Nichol Trophy with an excellent win over in-form Selkirk at Meigle Park.
The home side won by 48 runs to keep hold of the trophy which is played to remember one of Gala’s greatest ever players who passed away 20 years ago.
Despite another week of wet weather, Meigle Park was in tremendous nick thanks to the efforts of the Gala ground staff to get the game on.
Selkirk put Gala into bat first but a combination of good batting and a total of 46 extras allowed the hosts to reach a very competitive 170 for six from their 30 overs.
Jamie Crooks (31) and Dinesh Tharanga (30) impressed with some clean hitting while they were supported by captain Josh Irvine (23), Scott Paterson (20) and Finlay Rutherford (19).
Best bowler for Selkirk was Bob Wilkinson with 2 for 34.
Selkirk got off to a great start as the impressive opening pair of Greg Fenton (33) and Rory Banks (5) raced the score to 44 off eight overs.
But the game changed in two overs as firstly Callum Jenkins took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Banks off Scott Paterson’s bowling and then Tharanga claimed Greg Fenton lbw.
Selkirk slipped from 44 for 0 to 58 for 6 thanks to a devastating spell from Scott Paterson (4 for 19) but Michael Fenton (33) kept the Souters in the game until he was out thanks to a juggling catch by Rutherford off Liam Skeldon’s bowling.
There was also good catches by Tharanga and Irvine behind the stumps while Dean Moir had an excellent run out in a good fielding display by Gala.
Selkirk were eventually all out for 122.
Alongside Scott Paterson, youngsters Skeldon (2 for 11) and Robbie Paterson (1 for 23) claimed their first wickets for Gala 1st XI.
Gala
F. Rutherford b R. Banks 19
J. Crooks b M. Fenton 31
J. Irvine b B. Wilkinson 23
D. Tharanga ct & b B. Wilkinson 30
S. Paterson b D. Heard 20
D. Moir b I. Gardiner 0
A. Sujan not out 0
K. Paterson not out 1
Extras – 46
Total – 170 for six wickets
G. Fenton 6-0-21-0; B. Wilkinson 6-0-34-2; R. Banks 5-0-25-1; M. Fenton 6-1-19-1; S. Taylor 4-0-29-0; I. Gardiner 2-0-7-0; D. Heard 1-0-5-1.
Selkirk
G. Fenton lbw D. Tharanga 33
R. Banks ct C. Jenkins b S. Paterson 5
M. Fenton ct F. Rutherford b L. Skeldon 33
S. Taylor ct J. Irvine b S. Paterson 0
J. Henderson run out (D. Moir) 0
B. Wilkinson lbw b S. Paterson 0
I. Gardiner ct J. Irvine b S. Paterson 0
L. Hughes ct J. Irvine b R. Paterson 10
D. Heard ct D. Tharanga b L. Skeldon 2
K. Easson not out 3
N. Gentleman b A. Sujan 3
Extras – 21
Total – 122 for ten wickets
D. Moir 4-0-23-0; C. Jenkins 3-0-15-0; D. Tharanga 6-2-14-1; S. Paterson 6-1-19-4; L. Skeldo 3-0-11-2; R. Paterson 4-0-23-1; A. Sujan 2-0-5-1.