Gala 1st XI hosted Carlton 2nd XI to Meigle Park in what was their first home game of the ESCA Championship where the home side would look to get off to a strong start in their efforts to retain the title.

Carlton won the toss and elected to bat first with an aggressive start looking to take the game to the hosts. Runs were scored quickly in the opening stages of the game before Tharanga managed to dismiss Aslam for 16 with Ponneri taking the catch. Moir came into the Gala bowling attack for a short spell with the results being mixed, Moir took 3 wickets in his short 3 over spell however the Carlton batters attacked well managing to take 30 runs from his overs. Crooks was then brought into the attack and with Indrasiri at the other end, Gala attacked the Carlton order with spin. Crooks picked up a wicket in his first over with Indrasiri limiting the score, frustrating the Edinburgh side. At the break Gala had pulled the game back with Carlton sitting at 99-6. Simpson and Gupta managed to slow the fall of wickets with a crucial partnership, frustrating the Gala attack. Tharanga finally dismissed Gupta LBW for 24 and with that wicket Gala picked up the remaining 3 wickets leaving Carlton all out for 169 off 42 overs. Moir picked up 3 wickets, Tharanga and Crooks had 2 each with Mein and Indrasiri getting 1 each with a run out to finish the innings off.

The run chase for Gala never got going. The first 3 wickets for Carlton fell with Gala only managing to put 26 runs on the board. New overseas amateur Ridwan Khalia looked the most comfortable of the top three before he was dismissed for 8 after being well caught by Aslam off Stronach’s bowling. Eyre and Indrasiri managed to bring the score up to 55 before the former lost his wicket and with that the floodgates opened. Simpson bowled excellently taking 5 wickets for only 3 runs, tearing through the middle and lower order. Simpson finished the innings off by taking a catch off his own bowling with Gala only reaching 72.

A very disappointing first home game for Gala who were simply not good enough with the bat after a good bowling display. Next week the team will look to bounce back as they travel to Loretto School to take on Morton.

CARLTON SCORECARD
G Murray c J Crooks b D Moir 22
H Aslam c S Ponneri b D Tharanga 16
K Macpherson c J Irvine b D Moir 10
H Laing lbw J Crooks 15
R Main c E Eyre b D Moir 16
B D’ulisse c U Indrasiri b J Crooks 7
S Gupta lbw D Tharanga 24
H Simpson C+B U Indrasiri 23
S Smith c J Crooks b K Mein 24
C Stronach not out 4
S Khan run out 1

Extras – 7

Carlton 169 all out off 42 overs

Fall of Wickets = 1-23, 2-50, 3-61, 4-80, 5-87, 6-93, 7-135, 8-163, 9-164, 10-169

GALA BOWLING

K Mein 8-1-26-1
D Tharanga 8-1-37-2
U Indrasiri 8-2-14-1
D Moir 3-0-30-3
J Crooks 10-1-34-2
A Rhode 5-0-23-0

GALA SCORECARD
S Ponneri c B D’ulisse b S Gupta 2
F Rutherford lbw C Stronach 7
R Khalia c H Aslam b C Stronach 8
E Eyre c B D’ulisse b H Simpson 13
U Indrasiri lbw C Stronach 15
J Irvine c H Aslam b H Simpson 12
A Rhode c B D’ulisse b H Simpson 0
D Tharanga run out 1
J Crooks b H Simpson 0
K Mein not out 2
D Moir C+B H Simpson 1

Extras – 11

Gala 72 all out after 29 overs

Fall of Wickets = 1-2, 2-13, 3-26, 4-55, 5-61, 6-61, 7-63, 8-64, 9-71, 10-72

CARLTON BOWLING

S Gupta 6-1-10-1
C Stronach 10-1-36-3
S Smith 4-0-15-0
H Simpson 5-2-3-5
S Khan 4-1-8-0