Cricket: Sides deliver a winning streak

Jun 4 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

FAULDHOUSE Cricket Club travelled to Edinburgh this weekend to lock horns with newly promoted Boroughmuir.

Their hosts were in great form on the back of three wins and were in confident mood. Boroughmuir won the toss and elected to bat.

They made pretty good use of the deck rattling up 120 runs from the first 20 overs, unfortunately, they had also lost 7 of their batsman.

The Boro' tail wagged and held well to post a score of 217 from their 50 overs.

Spinner A McDonald was the chief destroyer finishing with figures of 5-24.

Fauldhouse started their innings in a more solid fashion and after 15 overs were 0-45.

The next 17 overs brought 150 runs, DW Allan smashing his way to brilliant 108 and a welcome ton for the stocky left hander who was given stoic support from J Bailey’s 57.

The Fauldhouse middle order gave Boro' bowlers no let up and they finished the game in some style with a massive six in the 33rd over.

This week will see the first team welcome Glenrothes CC to Eastfield for a 1pm start.

WEST LOTHIAN County Cricket Association were also in action and all three teams won their League Matches in the SNCL and East League Divisions.

County Sunday XI finished off the great weekend with a win, giving a full house of victories for the WLCCA.

County First XI travelled to Fife to play Freuchie at Muir Road in the SNCL Second Division.

Freuchie won the toss and asked West Lothian to bat. County started off with a new opening pair of Noel Dally and regular David Drylie, who put on 20 runs.

County had four players who got starts and then were dismissed, Drylie 21, Anthony McKenna 6, Kruger van Wyk 14 and Corne Van Wyk 22.

After 33 overs County found themselves with half their team in the pavilion, with the score at 93.

At this point veteran County wicket keeper David Fleming was joined by the youngest of the Raven brothers Grant, and the two of them started taking very quick singles, twos and threes.

This very positive attitude allowed County to nearly double their total in the 48th over when Fleming was out the score had reached 182 for 6.

Captain Andy Raven joined his brother and they added 14 before Andy was out for 8.

After 50 overs West Lothian closed their innings on 196 for 7, with young Grant finishing on 59 not out, a great effort.

After tea Freuchie set about chasing the 197 runs requiredy.

Their opening partnership of JSC Galloway and S Rowley put on 57 in 13 overs before Rowley was bowled by Corne Van Wyk for 15. Freuchie only had one scorer of over 50.

After 44 overs Freuchie were on 172 for 7, but County applied the pressure on the tail end batsmen and the last wicket fell with the score on 193, four runs short.

County won their second League victory in successive weeks by three runs. County claim the eight points and Freuchie get two bonus points for a higher scoring rate.

County Third XI also travelled to Fife to play Dalgety Bay in the East League Division Seven.

Dalgety Bay batted first scoring 148 all out in 33 overs.

After tea County scored 152 for 8 in 43 overs with, Chris Newman 31, Alistair Gurr 25, John Miller 21 and young John Strachan 14 not out to claim their first win.