St Boswells beat Kismet by nine runs
EAST LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
AFTER last week’s sound thrashing at the hands of second-placed team Edinburgh, St Boswells were well aware that only a win at home against mid-table Kismet would suffice.
Anybody driving past the Green last week, which resembled a pond, would have thought there was no chance of play.
But an incredible effort by groundsman Gordon Barkham managed to ensure it was on.
Kismet won the toss and elected to bat.
From the start, Elliot Turnbull had the openers in trouble and it was no surprise when he ripped both Rafi and Sharif with less than 20 on the board.
Cletus Mathurin then came on to bowl and while the score crept along at a rate less than two an over, Mathruin took four wickets in total for 16 runs.
The best of these was thanks to a sharp catch by Jack Chambers at silly mid on that saw Aziz depart for a top-scoring 19.
As the score went from 43 for 5 to 66 for 7, the wickets continued to fall at a steady pace. Kismet ended up on 100 after a score card recount that saw them get their batting bonus point.
In reply, St Boswells lost an early wicket when Elliot Ruthven went for a duck early on. However, Mathurin and Stephen Broom gradually picked off the tight bowling to reach 101 for 1 off 27.1 overs.
Therefore, the Villagers stay top of ESCA Division Two with two games to go.
If they win both those home games, they will be guaranteed to be promoted to the ESCA Division One as champions.
Kismet
F Rafi LBW b S Turnbull 7
M Sharif b S Turnbull 8
T Aziz c J Chambers b C Mathurin 19
A Mohammed LBW b C Mathurin 3
M Sarfraz b E Hunter 15
A Ali LBW b C Mathurin 13
S Saeed c R Elms b C Mathurin 2
M Arman b C McNeill 4
M Naseem not out 14
T Naseem c E Ruthven b S Broom 4
Extras 2lb 8w 10
Total for 9 wkts (42.3 ovs) 100
St Boswells
C Mathurin not out 43
E Ruthven c A Ali b A Mohammed 0
S Broom not out 47
Extras 5b 3lb 3w 11
Total for 1 wkt (27.1 ovs) 101