Linlithgow back to winning ways
Career best 87 not out as Strachan leads way
Linlithgow Cricket Club’s First XI bounced back magnificently from three consecutive defeats to score a commanding 123 run win over Murrayfield/DAFS.
The hosts batted first and were on the front foot from the start with opener John Strachan leading the charge with a career high score of 87 not out as Linlithgow posted 176-7 from their 50 overs.
Andrew Raven chipped in with a halfcentury, being dismissed on 51.
While the 177 set to win was not the most intimidating, the visitors saw their top order blown away by the Linlithgow duo of Gregor Thomson and Jordan Hamilton.
Thomson recorded incredible figures of 10- 4- 11- 4 while Hamilton ably assisted with 3-12 from 5.3 overs as Murrayfield/DAFS were skittled out for just 53.
Linlithgow collect the maximum 20 points for their efforts and travel to Clackmannan County on Saturday hoping for a repeat performance.
It wasn’t to be a perfect weekend for the club, though, as the Second XI suffered a six wicket defeat in their Division Three fixture away at Haddington.
Linlithgow were bowled all out for 124 and while they reduced the hosts to 50-4, they were unable to take any more wickets and they slumped to their fourth defeat in five league games this season.
They have a tough task on Saturday as Glenrothes Third XI, currently second in the table, make the trip to Boghall.
Elsewhere, Fauldhouse secured a narrow 17 run victory away to Westquarter and Redding in Division Two.
The Vics batted first and scored a decent 164-4 from their 40 overs. Thanks to some smart bowling, that proved to be more than enough as the hosts fell short on 147-9.
The win saw them climb above local rivals Livingston in the table after they fell to a five wicket defeat at the hands of SMRH Second XI.
Livi’s 143-5 from 40 overs proved to be a few runs shy of what was required as the visitors reached their target for the loss of five wickets with just six balls remaining.
The club’s Second XI, meanwhile, moved off the foot of the Division Six table with a four wicket win away at Glenrothes.
Livi reduced the hosts to 35-5 thanks to some great bowling, although they recovered to score 135-7.
Much like their opponents, Livi’s top order were skittled out and things looked bleak at 47-4 before a crucial 37-run partnership between Shazad Gul and Jim Wilson put them on the path to victory with nearly three overs to spare.