Gala beat Livingston by two wickets
EAST LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
YOUNGSTER Jack Halls held his nerve to guide Gala to a battling win at Livingston, and another step closer to promotion.
Teenager Halls came in to bat with Gala still needing 14 to win and only two wickets remaining, but the number 10 played a series of composed shots to maintain the Meigle Park men’s 100 per cent record in East Division 3.
Gala captain Stephen Halls had no hesitation in putting the home side into bat on a tricky wicket and very wet outfield. It seemed to be the correct decision as they reduced their hosts to 36 for 6, with Dinesh Tharanga bowling superbly, ably supported by Scott Paterson.
Tharanga ended up with four wickets for 24 runs from his 10 overs, but opening batsman Kumar provided some resistance, as well as number of well-timed strikes. He hit Rory Hancock for six twice, but Hancock replied with a cracking delivery to bowl Kumar for 48. Duvvuri survived and with the help of Wilson managed to get his team up to 97, an awkward total in the conditions.
Gala started off their innings in brisk fashion, with Stephen Halls looking in good form, however a loose shot from the skipper saw him caught by Asghar off Wilson for 16. The league leaders were soon in trouble as Josh Irvine was run out after a mix-up with Graeme Ormiston, who also departed soon after, along with Tharanga.
The Braw Lads were looking shaky, but Duncan Millar and Kenny Paterson very slowly got the visitors back into the match against disciplined home bowling.
With 18 needed to win off 11 overs Millar played round a straight ball by veteran bowler Asghar for 30, sparking another collapse by the Braw Lads.
Paterson and Robbie Pringle both fell to Duvvuri, while Hancock was bowled by Asghar, who ended up with superb figures of four wickets for just five runs, but up stepped a composed Jack Halls, who scored the winning run off Collings’ bowling with eight balls to spare to spark wild celebrations for the Gala team.
Livingston
A. Kumar, b Hancock 48
R. Bowering, b Tharanga 1
R. Kumar, b Tharanga 1
S. Kumar, b Tharanga 2
C. Toms, c & b Tharanga 5
I. Murdoch, b Ormiston 1
N. Asghar, b Ormiston 0
R. Duvvuri, not out 15
S. Aswathi, c Moir b Hancock 3
J. Wilson, c Irvine b Moir 12
M. Collings, c J Halls b Irvine 0
Extras 7
Total for 10 wkts 97
Gala
S. Halls, c Asghar b Wilson 16
G. Ormiston, b Asghar 12
J. Irvine, run out 4
D, Millar, b Asghar 30
D. Tharanga, c Toms b Asghar 1
K. Paterson, not out 18
S. Paterson, c R Kumar b Duvvuri 4
R. Hancock, b Asghar 0
R. Pringle, b Duvvuri 0
J. Halls, not out 8
Extra 5
Total for 8 wkts 98