The 1st XI enjoyed a comfortable success against Stewart’s Melville at Inverleith when Oli Hairs and Andrew Chalmers recorded half-centuries as our total of 228 proved well beyond the opposition. Our quicker bowlers reduced Stewart’s Melville to 25 for 7 before some resistance from their lower order, Including a last-wicket partnership of 30 which was brought to an end by the only ball Rory High bowled! Callum Martin’s 4 for 17 was his best return in the 1st XI, with Tom Pratt (3 for 14) and Gareth Weatherall (2 for 25) accounting for the other wickets as victory was secured by 134 runs.

League and Scottish Cup successes against RH Corstorphine earlier in the season gave some confidence prior to their visit to Myreside for the return league fixture. Winning the toss and batting first, Oli Hairs opened up in customary fashion and his fourth successive half-century (of five to date - in addition to a century) saw him pass 500 league runs for the season. On Oli’s dismissal, Andrew Chalmers (51) provided solidity in the middle of the innings and, from 100 for 5, added 61 with Harry Shivmangal (27). Not for the first time this season, Lachlan Hillis and Gregour Carr added valuable runs before the innings ended with 225 runs on the board. Our bowlers struggled to take wickets and RH Corstorphine eventually overtook our total with almost three overs left and five wickets in hand.

At Goldenacre, a trophy presented by Heriot’s for matches between the clubs was up for competition for the first time. The trophy, entitled the 1896 Cup, was created to mark the 125th anniversary of the first match between the clubs. Heriot’s won the toss and invited us to bat first. Four wickets were down for 44 - including our two most prolific run-getters, Oli Hairs and Andrew Chalmers - before something of a recovery was effected by Mike Carson and Akarshan Arora. When Mike fell for, by his standards, a remarkably subdued 60, the total was only 132 and seven wickets were down. Yet again, Lachlan Hillis (33) and Gregour Carr (18) batted sensibly in adding 38, with the former being the last wicket to fall at 192. Heriot’s got off to a fast start making inroads into the target. 92 for 3 became 140, before an excellent second spell from Tom Pratt was rewarded with four wickets and at 164 for 9 to prospect of claiming the new trophy was bright. However, our bowlers were unable to break a stubborn last wicket partnership as the opposition’s numbers 10 and 11 accumulated the runs required to win the game over the course of 11 overs. Another one that got away!

Second XI

Against Leith FAB at Myreside, the our bowlers struggled to take wickets as the opposition passed a hundred with only two down, the third wicket not being taken until the total had reached 220. A further three wickets fell, including two run outs, before the innings was completed with the total on 254. Abdul Bukhari and Harry Shivmangal had two wickets each, for 38 and 39 respectively. In response, a number of our batsmen got starts but only Parker Neame (43) managed to score more than 30. Although there were another four contributions in the twenties, we were unable to chase down the challenging total and the innings closed with eight wickets down and the total on 210.

The visit to Lewisvale to meet Musselburgh resulted in a somewhat unlikely victory. Electing to bat first, only two of our batmen managed to get to 20 as the side was bowled out for a meagre 128 in 38 overs. Ross Tait and Rory High then reduced Musselburgh to 27 for 3 before a stand looked like taking them home. The fourth wicket fell to Rory with the total on 95. At 112 - and with the opposition still having six wickets in hand - the prospect of victory appeared remote. However, Ross accounted for the set batsman at that score and took another seven runs later. 119 for 6 rapidly became 121 for 9 with a run out and wickets from George Baltzer and Oli Robertson, before George applied the coup-de-grace a couple of runs later and victory by a margin of five runs was achieved. Ross had 4 for 23, Rory 2 for 22, George 2 for 25 and Oli 1 for 1. Pete Macksimczyk made a first appearance of the season and, although without a wicket, conceded only 17 runs in his 9 overs in contributing to this success.

Livingston were the next visitors to Myreside and, on winning the toss, decided to bat first. After losing both openers for 33, the Livingston number 3 (the only opposing batsman to pass 20) guided his side to a total of 202 for 7, reaching an undefeated century in the final over of the innings. Skipper Alan Sievewright had three wickets, while Abdul Bukhari, Rory High and William Ellison each had one. While runs came at a good rate in our reply, four wickets were lost as the score reached 48 at the start of the tenth over. At that stage, the skipper joined opener Rory. 155 runs later this pair completed an excellent victory with ten overs to spare - Rory recording his fourth half-century of the season before finishing on 73 and Alan contributing a run-a-ball 96. This partnership is the third highest for the club for the fifth wicket and the highest for that wicket in the 2nd XI.

Third XI

The return meeting with Edinburgh 3rd XI at Craiglockhart resulted in a comprehensive win for our 3rd XI. Batting first after winning the toss, we began poorly and three wickets were down for 15. With Laurie Cox taking the lead, he and David Evans took the score on to 88 when the latter was dismissed for 26. Jonny Ramsay (18) supported Laurie before he was eventually dismissed for an outstanding 70 and the innings ended with the score on 155. Our bowlers then stepped up and the opposition were dismissed for 59 – the same total they recorded in the first match at the Meadows. Farhan Khan recorded outstanding figures, conceding only six runs in his seven overs in taking 4 wickets, while Mike Maclean also had 4 wickets for 16 in 7 excellent overs.

Next up for the side was a trip to St Boswells where the home side batted first after winning the toss. After their 40 overs they had accumulated 176 for 8, with all six of our bowlers used taking at least one wicket. A good start was made in our reply by Fraser Kinloch (42) and Angus Cousin (20), before Laurie Cox recorded a second successive half century and further runs coming from veteran Andy Sinclair (23). Daniel Bryen had been injured and taken to hospital by his father (who was also in the team) so the side was two batsmen short. From 165 for 3 with 15 balls left four more wickets fell. The last ball of the game arrived and an overthrow by the opposition saw the side victorious! For the record, Ross Kennard and Jonathan Potton were the not out batsmen at the crease at the end.

After a run of three victories, Drummond Trinity 3rd XI visited Craiglockhart. Our 3rd XI, having lost the toss, was invited to bat first and only managed to total 137 (for 9) in its 40 overs. Laurie Cox continued his fine run of form with 49, but of the other batsmen only Ross Millar and Jamie Reid were able to reach double figures. In reply, five of our seven bowlers tried each took a wicket but were unable to contain the opposing batsmen and our total was passed with almost seven overs to spare.

Fourth XI

The 4th XI’s return fixture at Livingston failed to repeat the victory achieved in the first match of the season. Batting first, Livingston totalled 211 for 8 in its 40 overs and featured a fourth-wicket partnership of 141. Chris Cox had three wickets, with Kevin Weavers and Sanjeev Srinivasan each taking two. Our batsmen were unable to score at the required rate and ended 57 runs short when the innings closed. Geoff Mawdsley (46) was the only one of our batsmen to pass 20.

Marchmont 3rd XI were then the visitors to Craiglockhart with memories of the match earlier in the season when this opposition amassed 291. Inviting Marchmont to bat first, our bowlers ensured there would be no repetition and proceeded to dismiss the opposition for 200 runs fewer than the first match - 91 in 25 overs. The bowling plaudits went to Sam Boardman with the outstanding analysis of 5 overs, 1 maiden, 8 runs and 4 wickets. Tuckers (Toby and Jamie) both took a couple of wickets, the others falling to Finlay Blackstock and Jonathan Trout. In reply, we XI lost our first wicket at 13 and were three down when 50 was reached. At that stage Finlay took centre stage with a hard-hitting 32 not out - in only 15 balls and including with 5 boundaries - as a welcome victory was secured by seven wickets in less than 20 overs.

At Inverleith, Stewart’s Melville 4th XI were next up. Winning the toss and batting first, we made a reasonable start and a steady second wicket partnership of 69 between David Evans (36) and Chris Cox (with a maiden half-century for the club) took the score to 81. Thereafter, wickets fell at regular intervals and the innings closed with the total on 138. Stewart’s Melville made fairly short work of the chase, losing only two wickets on their way to reaching their target in 21 overs.