Gala/Hawick Development team put in a battling performance before losing out by four wickets to an experienced Musselburgh 3rds.
The Development team recovered from a disastrous start which left them 9 for 3 to make 109 from their 40 overs.
They looked set for a heavy loss when Musselburgh reached 79 for 1, but the young team fought back well to push their hosts all the way.
Played at Haddington’s ground, Gala/Hawick lost captain Max Hastings, James Boyle and Jamie Bell within the first four overs.
Kenny Paterson steadied the ship but the scoring rate was very slow as Gala/Hawick stood at 37 for 5 after 20 overs.
But the visitors managed to up the scoring rate and add 72 runs in the second half of the innings with Liam Skeldon, Jack Gammie and Fergus Hastings all providing good support for Paterson who finished on 61 not out.
Top bowler for Musselburgh was Colin Miller with 2 for 13 from his eight overs.
Gammie had Chris Turnbull caught behind in the first over to give Gala/Hawick the perfect start.
But Balakrishna (47) and Chikkinna (35) added 78 for the second wicket before both fell in quick succession, both to veteran bowler Brian Johnson (2 for 23) who was rewarded for a tight spell of bowling.
Gala/Hawick now had a sniff of victory against ten-man Musselburgh and youngsters Maisie Maceira (2 for 14) and Robbie Paterson (1 for 9) bowled brilliantly to leave the homesters 95 for six, still needing 15 with only three wickets in hand.
But Grieve (16) and Patterson (4) got Musselburgh over the line in the 31st over.
Gammie (1 for 17) and Fergus Hastings (0 for 23) also deserve mention for their bowling displays.
Gala/Hawick Development team sends its best wishes to player Paul Cowan who broke his collarbone while fielding.
Gala/Hawick Development team
M. Hastings b C. Miller 1
J. Boyle b C. Miller 4
J. Bell ct & b L. Grieve 0
K. Paterson not out 61
R. Paterson b L. Grieve 3
P. Cowan lbw b N. Balakrishna 1
L. Skeldon ct N. Balakrishna b S. Chikkinna 5
J. Gammie ct I. Patterson b T Hundal 7
F. Hastings b S Chikkinna 0
B. Johnson not out 0
Extras – 27
Total – 109 for eight wickets
C. Miller 8-2-13-2; L. Grieve 7-2-23-2; N. Balakrishna 8-2-11-1; S. Chikkinna 6-0-25-2; T. Hundal 3-0-17-1.
Musselburgh 3rds
N. Balakrishna ct L. Skeldon b B. Johnson 47
C. Turnbull ct M. Hastings b J. Gammie 0
S Chikkinna lbw B. Johnson 35
L. Grieve not out 16
T. Hundal b M. Maceira 1
M. Costello b R. Paterson 0
N. Macdonald ct J. Bell b M. Maceira 0
I. Patterson not out 4
Extras – 7
Total – 110 for six wickets
J. Gammie 7-2-17-1; L. Skeldon 3-0-22-0; B. Johnson 8-2-23-2; F. Hastings 5-0-23-0; R. Paterson 3-1-9-1; M. Maceira 4-0-14-2.