Fantastic first Championship win

Gala secured their first ever East of Scotland Championship title thanks to a comprehensive win at Marchmont on the final day of the season.

The Braw Lads needed to win to pip Carlton to the title by one percent and did so in style with a 149 run victory at Cavalry Park.

It sets up a play-off game against the winners of the Strathmore and Perthshire League on Saturday 11 September to earn promotion to the Eastern Premier League, which a number of Scotland’s biggest clubs play in.

Gala’s total of 235 for five was laid thanks to a brilliant hundred by opener Sid Ponneri, who put on a 100 run opening partnership with Finlay Rutherford (31).

Gala’s innings then wobbled as Jack Halls and Upul Indrasiri both fell soon after for ducks but captain Josh Irvine scored a quickfire 59 from 39 balls to help Gala to their best score of the season.

Ponneri finished on an unbeaten 109, batting the whole Gala innings in what was a brilliant performance.

In reply, Marchmont slipped from 52 for 2 to 86 all out thanks to a combination of all of Gala’s bowlers taking wickets.

Indrasiri was top wicket taker with 3 for 12, while Robbie Irvine, Ash Rhode and Dinesh Tharanga took two wickets each and Scott Paterson one wicket.

Meanwhile, Gala 2nds defeated Stewarts Melville 4ths at Meigle Park by four wickets to finish the season in third place in Division Seven, just outside the promotion spots.

Stewarts Melville made 170 all out which looked a decent total and Gala were struggling at one point but captain Ross Patterson and Graeme Ormiston saw the team home.

It caps a good return from the Gala 2nds in their first season playing Saturday cricket for over 20 years.

To cap off a busy but successful weekend, eight under 12s teams took part in the Rowan Boland Memorial Tournament on Sunday at Meigle Park. The overall winners were Carlton but the day helped raise £400 for the Rowan Boland Memorial Trust charity through a raffle and cake sale. Thanks to all the teams, volunteers, coaches, umpires and groundsmen who played their part, and in particular Jack Halls for organising the day.