Gala beat Kismet by 121 runs
ESCA TROPHY SEMI-FINAL
GALA cruised into the final of the ESCA President’s trophy with a victory over an underpowered Kismet side at Meigle Park, with the visitors bowled out for just 38 in reply to Gala’s 159 for 8.
It had looked so different early on as Gala lost four wickets in quick succession to leave the home side struggling on 32 for 4, however, Duncan Millar and Graeme Ormiston steadied the ship with a partnership of 43 before Millar played on for 29.
Ormiston the found good support from first Dinsesh Tharanga, then an innings beyond his years from Borders Under-14 captain Jack Halls who dominated a stand of 33 with Ormiston, but it was Ormiston who deservedly passed the half century to set a competitive target for the visitors.
Kismet were on the back foot from the moment Neil Crooks picked up two wickets in the second over of the innings.
Wickets fell at regular intervals with Dinesh Tharanga and Rory Hancock picking up three each and Graeme Ormiston two, with home fielding providing great support to the bowlers taking some excellent catches.
For the visitors, only Naseem reached double figures as they were bowled out in 24 overs.
Gala will play their final against East Division Two side Edinburgh at the Green, St Boswells, on Sunday at 1pm.
The ESCA President’s Trophy is a 40-over knockout competition in which teams from East League Division One to Division Four are eligible to enter.
To reach the final, Gala have knocked out Morton, Watsonians 2nd XI, Edinburgh South and Kismet.
Gala
S. Halls, lbw b Sarfraz 8
D. Boland, b Sarfraz 9
J. Irvine, b Ahmed 3
D. Millar, b Sharif 29
N. Crooks, b Ahmed 4
G. Ormiston, not out 53
D. Tharanga, b Naseem 10
R.. Hancock, run out 4
J. Halls, run out 23
R. Pringle, not out 5
Extras 13
Total for 8 159
Kismet
M. Arman, b Crooks 0
M. Sharif, lbw b Crooks 0
A. Ali, c Irvine b Tharanga 5
M. Sarfraz, c Halls b Tharanga 3
M. Ahmed, c Halls b Tharanga 50
M. Naseem, b Ormiston 11
Z. Ahmed, c Tharanga b Hancock 0
S. Haider, b Hancock 0
T. Naseem, c Millar b Hancock 5
A. Khalid, c Halls b Ormiston 1
A. Ahmed, not out 1
Extras 1
Total for 10 38