The East of Scotland Cricket Association season got underway on Saturday with both Linlithgow and Livingston celebrating First XI victories. However, there were also two defeats, an abandonment and a walkover thrown into the mix on the opening weekend.
Linlithgow’s First XI are plying their trade in the Championship and welcomed Edinburgh Accies to Boghall - a team they defeated twice last term and once again got the better of to start their season.
Linlithgow won the toss and batted first. A fine opening partnership between debutant Graham Oliver and stalwart John Strachan ticked the score along to 58 before Oliver was bowled with Matt Hedge coming in and keeping the scoreboard active.
Strachan reached his half-century before he mistimed a drive and was out for 60 while Hedge went lbw for 39 with the score at 139-3. New skipper Craig Black and Keith Morton showed all their experience to build a partnership that effectively put the game to bed. They added 102 for the fourth wicket before Morton went for 43.
Some lusty hitting in the final overs - including Black knocking six sixes on his way to 81 not out - saw the hosts post a daunting 275-6.
The new ball was thrown to Gregor Thomson (4-22) and Jordan Hamilton (3-16) and they quickly set about ensuring their would be no successful run chase as Accies were reduced to 54-7.
A rear-guard mix of defence and attack from Accies’ eighth wicket pair saw the score creep up to 125 before Clinton Dixon (2-16) spelled the end as Accies were dismissed for 147 with Linlithgow winning by 128 runs.
Meanwhile, the club’s Second XI suffered a 54-run loss away to RHC Third XI in their Division Four opener.
A solid bowling effort, led by Rory Thomson giving up just 18 runs in his eight overs, saw the hosts score 226-5. The chase started brightly as Thomson and Joe Robinson shared an opening stand of 55 but a flurry of wickets put the handbrakes on the chase as they fell to 89-6.
Despite a late rally from the tail, they were bowled all out for 147 although they picked up eight points for their efforts.
This weekend, the First XI make the trip to face Edinburgh South while the club’s second stringers host Drummond Trinity Third XI.
Livingston are fielding four teams for the first time this season - however their Second XI and Fourth XI, who are competing in Division Five and Division Eight respectively, saw their contests called off.
The Seconds picked up a walkover win against Edinburgh CC, who were unable to field a team, while the Fourth XI fell victim of the weather.
The First XI, though, got their bid for promotion from Division One up and running in style thanks to a comfortable 63-run win away to Drummond Trinity. A strong opening saw them reach 116-1 before collapsing to 173-9 from their allotted 45 overs. Opener Adeel Khan top scored with 60.
The bowlers made light work of their hosts in reply with Kashif Khalid leading the way as he picked up three wickets to reduce Drummond Trinity to 34-4 while Imtiaz Khan (2-5) and Karthik Mani (2-2) dealt with the lower order to skittle out the home side for just 112.
The club’s Third XI are entering their second season but got off to a bad start with a poor batting display seeing them slip to a 36-run loss to Holy Cross Second XI in Division Seven.
A fine effort with the ball saw the home side bowled out for 124 with Mark Collings taking three wickets while Habib Bukhari, Jonty Collings and Saji Samuel all picked up two wickets and bowled economically.
But the bats offered little in response and were dismissed for 88 with opener Nawaz Mohammed (21) the only one to offer any real resistance.
This weekend, Livington First XI have their first home game of the campaign as they welcome Stewart’s Melville Second XI to Dresselrigg while the club’s Third XI host Murrayfield DAFs Fourth XI at Bankton Mains. Livi Second XI travel to face Musselburgh Second XI with the Fourth team visiting Leith FAB Third XI.
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