ANOTHER mini batting collapse from Gala proved fatal as the Braw Lads slipped to another home defeat to the hands of Royal High Corstorphine on a muggy afternoon at Meigle Park on Saturday.

Winning the toss and batting first, RHC were under a bit of pressure early on after Dinesh Tharanga clean bowled Thirlwell with a ripper that nipped the top of off stump. Thompson then joined Sathiy at the crease and the pair put on a few for the third wicket before the aggressive Sathiy was trapped LBW by Tharanga. Ex-Scotland internationalist Majid Haq then arrived at the wicket but was quicky dismissed after being caught and bowled by Tharanga looking to work the ball onto the leg side. Overseas player Flett then mistimed a Gregor Mein full toss to mid on and was caught leaving the away side concerned on 56 for 4.

McCorkell then joined Thompson however and the pair batted magnificently together, putting on 119 for the fifth wicket and both scoring well managed half centuries in the process. Thompson then clothed an off drive to mid off for Aashiq Rhode’s first league wicket for the club. This then ensued a flurry of late wickets as RHC looked to kick on and post a formidable total. Gala’s attack stuck to the task well however and managed to bowl the away side out for 209 with Dinesh Tharanga and Robbie Pringle the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each.

Gala’s reply did not get off to a good start with Kinghorn-Gray trapping Robbie Irvine LBW early on and then bowling Jack Halls leaving the hosts on 35 for 2. Josh Irvine and Duncan Millar then looked to rebuild before Millar was well caught at mid-wicket for 9. Aashiq Rhode then arrived at the crease, joining Irvine and the pair took the score patiently up to 95 and Gala were beginning to look in a comfortable position. However, Scotlands all time leading wicket taker in ODI’s, Majid Haq then dismissed skipper Irvine and on his way to a four wicket haul. This sparked a mini batting collapse from Gala as they lost Rhode, McMenemy and Mein in quick succession. Some stern batting however from Tharanga and Pringle may have began to worry the away side but both were dismissed quickly with the score on 142 which led to Gala ultimately being bowled out for 143, 67 runs short of their target.

RHC Innings

R.Thirwell b D.Tharanga 2

A.Sathiy LBW D.Tharnaga 24

R.Thompson ct J.Halls b A.Rhode 63

M.Haq c+b D.Tharanga 3

S.Flett ct A.Swanson b G.Mein 3

R.McCorkell ct J.Irvine b R.Pringle 74

R.Taylor run out 10

J.Kinghorn-Gray ct J.Halls b R.Pringle 4

K.Meier run out 2

C.Dutia ct A.Rhode b R.Pringle 3

C.Clarkson not out 1

Extras: w-16, b-1, lb-3 = 20

Total: 209 for 10 wickets from 48.3 overs

Bowling: R.Pringle 8.3-2-31-3 D.Tharanga 9-3-15-3 A.Swanson 2-0-19-0 G.Mein 6-0-26-1 A.Rhode 10-0-37-1 R.Irvine 5-0-22-0 A.McMenemy 3-0-14-0 J.Halls 3-0-19-0 J.Irvine 2-0-22-0

Gala Innings

J.Halls b J.Kinghorn-Gray 16

R.Irvine LBW J.Kinghorn-Gray 3

J.Irvine ct A.Sathiy b M.Haq 36

D.Millar ct K.Meier b M.Haq 9

A.Rhode st S.Flett b C.Dutia 17

A.McMenemy run out 0

D.Tharanga LBW M.Haq 21

G.Mein b C.Clarkson 0

R.Pringle ct S.Flett b J.Kinghorn-Gray 22

F.Rutherford not out 0

A.Swanson LBW M.Haq 0

Extras: w-14, nb-1, b-2, lb-2 = 19

Total: 143 for 10 wickets from 37.3 overs

Bowling: J.Kinghorn-Gray 7-2-17-3 K.Meier 4-0-28-0 M.Haq 8.3-1-34-4 C.Dutia 8-1-24-1 C.Clarkson 6-0-22-1 R.Taylor 4-0-14-0