West Lothian’s cricket teams picked up just one win from five matches last weekend – with both Linlithgow First XI and Second XI suffering their first defeats of the season.
Linlithgow’s top team have had a brilliant start to their first East Championship campaign in eight years, but were edged out by table-topping Heriots Second XI on Saturday.
The visitors chose to bat first and put on a reasonable 174 all out in their 50 overs. Gregor Thomson’s 3-19 were the best figures for the Linlithgow bowlers.
In reply, Thomson and Rory Saunders shared a 49-run opening partnership before the latter was out LBW. The home innings meandered along until the game-defining moment as Heriots skipper Ali Farooq bagged a hat-trick in a spell of 5-17 from nine overs.
Craig Black offered some resistance but when he was dismissed for 49, the home side’s chances went with it and they were eventually all out for 144, losing by 30 runs but getting seven bonus points.
The club’s depleted Second XI were in Division Four action and were edged out by 11 runs against Edinburgh University Staff.
The hosts tallied 176 all out in their 40 overs, with youngster Zac Davies taking a brilliant 5-12. In reply, Alan Whitton tried his best to lead Linlithgow to victory as he carried his bat for 59, but the away side fell short, dismissed for 165.
On Saturday, Linlithgow First XI travel to Carlton Second XI, while the club’s Second XI host Haddington.
Livingston didn’t fare much better but they were at least able to win one of their three matches.
The First XI jumped into fourth place in the Division One table thanks to a 23-run home win over Kelso. Batting first, Livi recovered well from 46-4 as knocks from Omais Altaf (59) and Adnan Ali (44 not out) helped guide the hosts to 181-7.
Early wickets from the Livi bowlers tilted the game in their favour in the reply before a strong middle-order fightback from Kelso saw them rally from 55-4 to 143-5, before Farooq Muhammad grabbed the crucial wicket of Tendai Chisoro for 75.
That led to a Kelso collapse with Jared Rubly’s 3-33 helping smash through to lower order as the visitors were all out for 158.
Livi’s Second XI fell to a 67-run loss to Penicuik Second XI in Division Five. The hosts batted first and scored 134 with Shrey Awasthi picking up five wickets.
The batters were unable to replicate the bowlers’ fine display as they were skittled all out for 67 – a score which saw a mini-recovery having been 30-7.
The Third XI, in their first season, also struggled with the bat in their Division Seven clash with Bass Rock Second XI. Bass Rock notched 175-2 in 40 overs before rattling through the Livi line-up, dismissing them for just 37.
On Saturday, Livi’s First XI travel to Drummond Trinity while the Second XI host Morton Second XI. The Third XI face Murrayfield DAFS Fourth XI away from home.
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