On the 15th of May, Gala travelled to Titwood on the West of Scotland to take on Clydesdale in the Scottish Cup first round. With Clydesdale winning the toss, the home side decided to put in the travelling border side into bat.

Ponneri helped Gala get off to a confident start as he put balls away to the boundary early on in the innings. His opening partner Rutherford struggled however and was soon removed for 3 with the score on 28. Eyre joined opener Ponneri at the crease and the pair got Gala to the half century before Ponneri was caught off the bowling of Koteeswaran for 22. Eyre was then removed soon after leaving Gala’s overseas amateur and pro Khalia and Indrasiri with a job to do. Khalia looked confident early on with runs flowing steadily for the amateur however, Indrasiri was run out looking to take a quick single meaning Gala were 90 for 4 with work to do and plenty of overs to do it.

Irvine got off the mark quickly with a lovely six back over the bowler’s head. The pair worked hard until it was undone after Irvine was bowled for 42 looking to sweep Bashir ending the partnership of 87. Khalia was then the star of the show for the rest of the Gala innings with the South African dealing out an assault on the Clydesdale bowling. Numerous balls were punished by Khalia in an impressive hitting display that was ended on 79 by Berrington. With plenty of extras conceded by the home side it gave Gala a competitive total of 237.

Clydesdale made a nervous start to their run chase with Mughal being dismissed early by Indrasiri with the score on 19. The second wicket fell when Khalia caught Young off Ponneri’s bowling. This meant Berrington joined the already set Barbour to the crease and the pair set about chasing the target. An electric innings from Berrington who scored 68 off only 43 balls including 4 maximums set up Clydesdale to take the win. Barbour was out shortly after Berrington with a knock of 58 playing a supportive role to the explosive hitting from the bat of Berrington. Jawad was excellently caught by Eyre to leg spinner Rhode however, by this time Sajjad and Galling knocked the ball about chasing their target in the 42nd over.

A more promising display by Gala against tough opposition still leaves the Borderers in defeat. Still searching for a win Gala will look to take on Penicuik next week at Meigle Park.

GALA SCORECARD

S Ponneri c R Berrington b N Koteeswaran 22
F Rutherford b A Shakoor 3
E Eyre c R Berrington b N Koteeswaran 20
R Khalia c&b R Berrington 79
U Indrasiri run out 9
J Irvine b Z Bashir 42
J Crooks c Z Bashir b A Shakoor 2
A Rhode run out 12
D Tharanga not out 6
J Bell not out 0

Extras 42

Gala 237-8 off 50 overs

FOW = 1-28, 2-50, 3-69, 4-90, 5-177, 6-218, 7-218, 8-236

CLYDESDALE BOWLING

A Shakoor 10-5-44-2
I Mughal 5-0-12-0
R Berrington 10-0-58-1
N Koteeswaran 7-1-28-2
S Raja 8-0-32-0
Z Bashir 10-0-52-1

CLYDESDALE SCORECARD

P Barbour lbw U Indrasiri 58
I Mughal b U Indrasiri 11
C Young c R Khalia b S Ponneri 21
R Berrington b D Tharanga 68
F Jawad c E Eyre b A Rhode 23
K Sajjad not out 30
J Galling not out 11

Extras 17

Clydesdale 239-5 off 41.3 overs

FOW = 1-19, 2-64, 3-172, 4-178, 5-213

GALA BOWLING

U Indrasiri 10-1-37-2
D Tharanga 10-2-42-1
J Bell 5-0-36-0
S Ponneri 5-0-28-1
J Crooks 8-0-51-0
A Rhode 3.3-0-41-1