GALA were edged out of another tight encounter on Saturday, losing by three wickets to Edinburgh Accies at Newfield.

Accies surpassed Gala’s total in the 48th over as Gala pushed their opponents all the way.

Gala won the toss and batted first on an excellent wicket, but got off to the worst start as Jack Halls departed for a duck followed by Nick Giofre to leave the visitors 10 for 2.

But the Irvine brothers – Robbie and Josh – did well to rebuild the innings, putting on 61 before Josh was given out lbw for decent knock of 42.

Gala then lost another three wickets to leave them 104 for 6 and looking at a low total.

But once again captain Dinesh Tharanga batted well to make an unbeaten 27, supported by useful knocks by Rory Hancock (18) and Graeme Ormiston (17) to take Gala to 175 all out.

Adnan Ali was best for Accies with the ball with four for 37 from his ten overs.

Accies appeared to be cruising to victory as captain Andrew Cosh (25) and Max Banks (56) put on 82 for the first wicket.

But Gala fought back brilliantly, taking four wickets for four runs as returning Halls and Ormiston took two wickets each.

Edinburgh pair Peter Bendixen (31) and Farooq Muhammad (32 not out) put on 50 to restore Accies’ dominant possession but Gala kept taking wickets to set up a tense finish.

But Muhammad saw the hosts home with 14 balls to spare.

Halls returned to form with the ball with 2 for 37 alongside Ormiston (2 for 31).

Gala

J. Halls b A. Amir 0

N. Giofre ct R. Kansara b A. Amir 8

R. Irvine b A. Ali 19

J. Irvine lbw A. Ali 42

F. Rutherford ct b A. Ali 7

D. Fisher ct A. Cosh b A. Ali 12

G. Ormiston ct P. Bendixen b F. Muhammad 17

D. Tharanga not out 27

R. Hancock ct b F. Mohammed 18

S. Loumeau run out 3

D. Moir bowled A. Ali 1

Extras – 21

Total – 175 for ten wickets

A. Amir 8.5-0-30-3; L. Mann 7-0-33-0; A. Ali 10-0-37-4; S. Saeed 10-2-21-1; F. Muhammad 10-3-21-2; R. Kansara 5-0-23-0.

Edinburgh Accies

A. Cosh ct R. Irvine b J. Halls 25

M. Banks st N. Giofre b J. Halls 56

T. Banerjee ct D. Tharanga b G. Ormiston 1

O. Altaf ct J. Halls b G. Ormiston 0

P. Bendixen lbw J. Irvine 31

F. Muhammad not out 32

A. Amir run out 1

A. Ali ct N. Giofre b R. Irvine 18

U. Saeed not out 4

Extras – 10

Total – 177 for seven wickets

R. Irvine 9.4-0-53-1; D. Tharanga 10-0-26-0; J. Halls 10-1-37-2; G. Ormiston 10-1-31-2; J. Irvine 6-1-12-1; R. Hancock 3-0-17-0.