A convincing win for Edinburgh South 2nds pegged back Gala 2nds hopes of promotion on Saturday as the visitors eased to a 7 wicket victory at Meigle Park.

Batting first, Gala made a positive start with openers Max Hastings and John Imray, both in good form from previous weeks. However South made the breakthrough after Dey took a fine catch at extra cover off the bowling of Singh to dismiss Imray for 8. Hastings followed soon after as he was bowled by the visitors key bowler Madduri for 12 and Gala were 20 for 2.

Stuart Anderson and Robbie Paterson both arrived at the crease and looked comfortable, adding 20 to the total before the former was bowled by Reddy. Gala captain Patterson followed soon after, being unlucky to be caught and bowled again by Reddy.

Craig Thomson then joined Robbie Paterson and both went about their business, playing some good shots reaching the boundary. Paterson in particular – in good form after his highest score of 48 not out for Gala the previous week – looked comfortable at the crease. He was eventually bowled however by Dey after a well made 29. Thomson was bowled by Barnard soon after.

Jamie Bell was the only other Gala batsman to add any big contribution, as he did well to pick the gaps and play some good shots on his way to 16. Edinburgh South did well to work through Gala’s tailend as Sujan (6), Boyle (2) and Maceira (0) all fell in quick succession.

Gala got off to a dream start with the ball as some excellent bowling from Craig Thomson and Liam Skeldon restricted the visitors to 11 for 3 from the first 10 overs. Thomson claimed all 3 wickets bowling a very tight line while Skeldon did very well at the other end to keep the scoring rate low. Both were unlucky not to take another wicket in particular Skeldon who was so close to an excellent caught and bowled chance.

These would be the last Edinburgh South wickets Gala would take though. A superb partnership of 86 from 16 overs from Singh (39*) and Ross (41*) ensured the visitors eased to victory with 13 overs to spare.

Gala 2nds face Watsonians 4s this Saturday looking to bounce back in Division 7.

GALA SCORECARD

M.Hastings b K.Madduri 12

J.Imray ct D.Dey b P.Singh 8

S.Anderson b S.Reddy 4

R.Paterson b D.Dey 29

R.Patterson ct + b S.Reddy 1

C.Thomson b R.Barnard 11

J.Bell ct M.Llangovan b D.Dey 16

A.Sujan ct M.Llangovan b A.Mundin 6

J.Boyle b K.Madduri 2

L.Skeldon not out 2

M.Maceira b K.Madduri 0

Extras – 5

Total: Gala 96 all out from 34.5 overs.

EDINBURGH SOUTH BOWLING

K.Madduri 5.4-3-13-3

P.Singh 8-0-25-1

S.Reddy 5-2-11-2

R.Barnard 6-1-19-1

D.Dey 7-0-19-2

A.Mundin 3-1-7-1

EDINBURGH SOUTH SCORECARD

K.Singh not out 39

M.Llangovan b C.Thomson 2

P.Griffiths b C.Thomson 0

S.Reddy ct R.Patterson b C.Thomson 2

I.Ross not out 41

Extras – 13

Total: Edinburgh South 97 for 3 from 26.5 overs.

GALA BOWLING

L.Skeldon 8-4-13-0

C.Thomson 8-3-24-3

J.Bell 5-0-21-0

M.Maceira 2-0-9-0

R.Paterson 2-0-14-0

A.Sujan 1-0-10-0