A solid all-round performance helped Selkirk ease to a 36-run victory over Hawick at Philiphaugh on Saturday to retain possession of the Ronnie Simpson Cup, writes Alex Massie.
Put into bat by the visitors, Greg Fenton and Andrew Rathie got the home side's innings off to a brisk start before each fell when seemingly well set. Nevertheless, after 15 overs Selkirk had progressed to 60 for two.
If the top order had laid the f
oundations for a challenging total, the middle-order failed to build upon them. A flurry of wickets saw Keith Davies dismiss Darren Fenton, Kenny Paterson and Jordan Reid in rapid succession and, suddenly, the Selkirk innings were taking on water and in danger of sinking.
Thomas Penman, however, organised a bailing operation, playing with sense and a straight bat as he moved to 23 before being the last man out.
The Teries' innings started poorly. Lahiru Fernando and William Rodger, however, settled the innings with the latter in particular crashing some splendid drives. However, when Fernando cut loosely to point Selkirk sensed that victory was theirs for the taking.
Even the usual litany of dropped catches only temporarily disrupted the Souters' progress.
Allan Moffat returned bravely, after he was hit on the head by a Darren Fenton bouncer, but he could do nothing about the falling wickets at the other end and though Keith Davies might have been unfortunate to be adjudged lbw none of the others could complain about their dismissal.
Selkirk
G. Fenton, c Davies b Baillie.......17
A. Rathie, c Macdougall b Davies28
R. Banks, c Johnston b Moffat....17
D. Fenton, c Fernando b Davies....5
K. Patterson, b Davies...................7
J. Reid, c Watson b Davies............1
T. Penman, run out.....................23
I. Buckley, c Storey b Rodger........4
I. Gardiner, run out......................11
L. Oliver, c MacTaggart b Storey...0
J. Graham, not out........................4
Extras..........................................11
Total all out...............................128
Hawick and Wilton
G. Baillie, lbw Patterson................0
A. Weir, b Patterson.......................7
L. Fernando, c D. Fenton b G. Fenton.........................................17
W. Rodger, c Banks b G. Fenton.34
A. Moffat, not out........................10
A. Johnston, c Graham b Reid.......1
P. MacTaggart, c Penman b Reid..3
G. Watson, b Rathie....................10
K. Davies, lbw Patterson................1
N. Storey, b D. Fenton...................0
C. Macdougall, c Banks b D. Fenton...........................................0
Extras............................................9
Total............................................92
