DESPITE being under strength due to injury and Gala Day call-offs, Gala still proved too strong for Edinburgh South with an 88 run victory at Meigle Park.

The home side overcame the shock of losing jack Halls to the first ball of the innings with Graeme Ormiston playing the key role and recording his highest 1st XI score with a fine 94, including nine boundaries, batting until the third last ball of the innings to help Gala post a competitive 172 for 6.

Ormiston received good support from Stevie Halls (22), in his first 1st XI match of the season, Kev Gallagher (20) including two sixes and Robbie Irvine, with a composed 17 not out at the end of the innings.

In reply Dinesh Tharanga and Irvine had Edinburgh South under immediate pressure, both picking up early wickets, while some panicky running by the visitors gifted two more wickets to the home side. Jack Halls continued the good work of the opening bowlers with two wickets and with Tharanga dismissing Sheikh to pick up his fourth wicket, Edinburgh South slipped to 56 for 9.

Gala took the opportunity to get Caitlin Ormiston and 12-year-old Jamie Crooks, on 1st XI debut, into the attack, before Robbie Irvine returned to pick up his second wicket and end the Edinburgh South resistance at 84. .

Gala J Halls b Barratt 0 G Ormiston c Warner b Sheikh 94 S Halls lbe b Clark 22 D Millar c Barratt b Clark 0 D Tharanga c Barratt b Clark 4 K Gallagher c Barratt b Sheikh 20 R Irvine not out 17 K Paterson not out 1 Extras: b-2 lb-5 w-6 nb-2 = 15 Total for 6 wickets 172 Edinburgh South M Shukla run out 14 M Goti c G Ormiston b Tharanga 0 C Clark c J Halls b Irvine 10 P Reddish b Tharanga 6 S Rupani run out 1 R Welsh c K Paterson b Tharanga 9 A De Silva c & b J Halls 4 H Warner c & b J Halls 1 F Sheikh c K Paterson b Tharanga 5 L Johnson c C Ormiston b Irvine 21 C Barratt not out 8 Extras: b-0 lb-0 w-1 nb-1= 4 Total for 10 wickets 84