LIVINGSTON CRICKET CLUB

It was a Scottish Cup double at the weekend for Livingston as their under16s and under-14s both progressed into the next round with comfortable victories against Dunfermline and Carnegie.

The under-16s scored a 77-run victory while it was an even more emphatic win for the younger age group as they sealed a 119-run triumph.

The under-16s were up first and after losing the toss were put into bat and racked up a competitive total of 169-5.

Skipper Jared Rubly scored 50 before retiring, while huge hitting from Jagat Tataneni and Jonty Collings boosted the total.

Early wickets and tight bowling ensured Dunfermline and Carnegie were never likely to chase down the 170 needed, eventually dismissed for 92. Rubly was the pick of the bowlers with a wicket and just two runs conceded in his two overs. The under-14s won the toss and batted first with Zuhair Suri’s 32 and captain Matthew Vettese’s 30 leading the way to 176-9.

In response, brilliant bowling ensured wickets tumbled and the runs were limited.

The pick of the bowlers were the Lang brothers, David and Alex as well as Max Hearne with his left-arm leg spin claiming two wickets.

Wicketkeeper Dylan Crook stumped the final Dunfermline and Carnegie batsman on the last ball, leaving them well short on 57.

The under-16s progress to the quarterfinals where they will host either Stenhousemuir, Falkland, or Perth Doo’cot, while it’s a last-16 berth for the younger of the two age groups.

They’ll travel to Glenrothes aiming to match their older club-mates and book their place in the last eight.

The club’s senior sides get their competitive action back underway for the first time since the end of the 2019 season, with last year’s campaign being cancelled due to the pandemic.

The First XI start their Division One campaign away to Musselburgh, while both side’s Second XIs meet in Livingston for a Division Five fixture.

The club’s Third XI get their Sunday League campaign up and running on June 6.

Meanwhile, the club have restarted their introduction to junior cricket sessions.

All Stars Cricket is for boys and girls aged between five and eight, with Dynamos Cricket for children eight to 11 years old with both classes designed to develop skills and enjoyment for the game.

The sessions run on a Wednesday eveing at the club, with All Stars between 6.30-7.15pm and the Dynamos starting immediately afterwards and running until 8.15pm.

For futher information, contact Mark Gray on beetroot1973@hotmail.co.uk or on 07419 211 440.