The inaugural BSLT Indoor Cricket Sixes trophy has been taken out of the Borders by Murrayfield DAFs.
Playing at the Gytes Leisure Centre in Peebles on Sunday, the DAFs got their hands on the spoils after an exciting final against Gala CC.
Earlier Kelso CC’s young guns lifted the Plate with a resounding win over Peebles County.
After a series of group games which started in January, the four remaining teams in the competition contested the semi-finals.
A young Gala CC team captained by Duncan Millar finished on top of the table unbeaten and were firm favourites to lift the trophy after their domineering display of hard-hitting batting, accurate bowling and tight fielding.
In second spot was Murrayfield DAFs CC, who had lost just one game to a rampant Gala CC. Peebles County finished third and Kelso CC – whose average age throughout was a little under 17 – were fourth.
In the champions’ final, Murrayfield’s batters set about posting a total in unorthodox fashion, Mangesh Akerkar’s inventiveness was delightful to watch whilst his partner, Chris Donaldson, ran for everything. After they posted a 50 partnership Akerkar was needlessly run out for 25 but Donaldson made amends by retiring on 30 shortly afterwards. The next three batters, Amol Deshmukh, Anand Venkatesh and Ian Shiels, all posted swift 15s as the total passed 100. The final delivery came and Murrayfield had set Gala CC 128 to win.
Sadly for Gala the line was too far and when Robbie Pringle holed-out to Ian Shiels after just two balls, they had lost their first game of the series but well played both teams not just on the day but throughout the tournament.
Having presented the champions trophy to DAFs captain Ian Shiels, Neil Cameron (Borders Cricket Development Officer) thanked all those who had taken part since January, saying he was delighted at the standard on show.
He added: “These two teams have not only shown what an exciting format of the game this is but what useful pre-season practice it can be, too, and with such a short playing season as we have in Scotland, taking part in a game that you can guarantee won’t be called-off due to the weather is a no-brainer.”