An excellent Gala bowling performance proved to be the catalyst for victory in a low scoring encounter with Dunfermline and Carnegie 2nds at McKane Park on Saturday.
Batting first, Gala got off to a steady start on a difficult wicket with Max Hastings and Jamie Bell looking comfortably set early on. However, the hosts began to apply some pressure, with Gala looking to increase their scoring rate. Bell (6), was bowled by Dunfermline opener Brown. This sparked a flurry of wickets with the opener then going onto take a further two Gala wickets, with Stuart Skeldon and Craig Thomson both departing for ducks in quick succession.
Gala never really recovered from these early blows and despite encouraging resistance from James Boyle (7), John Imray (8) and Caitlin Ormiston (10), wickets kept falling at regular intervals and Gala’s scoring rate never really took off on a tricky pitch. Max Hastings (16) managed his way well through Gala’s innings and dug in but he was eventually removed by Leslie after being caught behind. Gala were reduced to a low total of 79 all out from 37.4 overs.
The hosts reply got off to an encouraging start and Gala were on the back foot with openers Leitch and Spreng looking comfortable. However, Caitlin Ormiston, fresh from a 5 wicket haul last week, made the breakthrough, with youngster Bailey Paterson – making his debut – taking a great catch. Liam Skeldon, who has also been in fine form with the ball, then got Gala’s second, with dad and son combining after Stuart took a great catch off Liam’s bowling.
The only other batsman for the hosts to make any real impact was Miller (11) who was eventually bowled by Ormiston as she made her way to 4 wickets in the match. The Gala bowlers then took wickets at regular intervals, with Maisie Maceira (2 wickets), Craig Thomson (1 wicket) and James Boyle (1 wicket) also chipping in for the visitors while Stuart Skeldon again took a catch off the bowling of Liam Skeldon. It was Craig Thomson who took the final Dunfermline wicket as the hosts finished 58 all out from 26.1 overs, and Gala winning by 21 runs.
*Header photo courtesy of Guy Moffat (Dunfermline and Carnegie CC)
GALA 2ND XI SCORECARD
M.Hastings ct S.Forster b E.Leslie 16
J.Bell b B.Brown 6
S.Skeldon b B.Brown 0
C.Thomson b B.Brown 0
R.Paterson st S.Forster b E.Leslie 5
J.Boyle b I.Barron 7
M.Maceira b G.Coles 1
J.Imray b G.Coles 8
C.Ormiston b D.Cooper 10
L.Skeldon b I.Barron 0
B.Paterson not out 0
Extras – 26
Gala 79 all out from 37.4 overs.
Dunfermline and Carnegie Bowling
B.Brown 8-3-8-3
J.Parsonage 8-1-22-0
E.Leslie 7-1-12-2
G.Coles 6-0-19-2
D.Cooper 5.4-1-8-1
I.Barron 4-1-9-2
DUNFERMLINE AND CARNEGIE 2ND XI SCORECARD
A.Leitch ct S.Skeldon b L.Skeldon 7
J.Spreng ct B.Paterson b C.Ormiston 7
D.Miller b C.Ormiston 11
D.Cooper LBW M.Maceira 0
J.Parsonage b M.Maceira 2
I.Barron b C.Ormiston 6
S.Forster ct J.Imray b J.Boyle 1
B.Brown ct S.Skeldon b L.Skeldon 0
G.Coles b C.Ormiston 0
E.Leslie ct L.Skeldon b C.Thomson 0
J.Parsonage not out 0
Extras – 21
Dunfermline and Carnegie 58 all out from 26.1 overs.
Gala Bowling
C.Thomson 5.1-1-11-1
L.Skeldon 6-1-15-2
C.Ormiston 8-1-18-4
M.Maceira 5-2-8-2
J.Boyle 2-0-5-1