GALA’S poor run in East League Division 1 continued on Saturday after a heavily depleted side, missing seven first team regulars, were narrowly defeated by two wickets at the hands of West Lothian at Boghall.

Asked to bat first, Gala lost Ross Patterson early but a second wicket partnership between Stephen Halls and Kevin Gallagher appeared to get Gala going as they began to frustrate West Lothian’s attack. However, Halls eventually fell to Thompson, with Jack Halls following soon after. Gala then looked in a bit of trouble as they lost Gallagher who mistimed a pull shot to mid off.

Dinesh Tharanga and Alan Oliver then helped the score up to 73 before Oliver tried to up the run rate and was caught at mid on. Scott Paterson then came to the crease and played a flurry of shots despite losing Tharanga for a well made 34. Finlay Rutherford joined Paterson and the pair took the score up to 122, before Gala lost their final three wickets without scoring.  With Gala needing to bowl out West Lothian, they got off to the perfect start, with Paterson getting Drylie caught behind with the score on 4. The wickets continued to come for Gala with Paterson, Tharanga and Moir restricting West Lothian to 54-4 at drinks. However, positive batting by Raven gave West Lothian the upper hand and despite late wickets through Moir, Halls and Ross Patterson as well as tight bowling by Caitlin Ormiston, the home side eased to the total and won by two wickets in the 47th over.              Gala S Halls ct Bennie b Thomson 23 R Patterson ct Miller b Thomson 1 K Gallagher ct Raven b Bennie 17 J Halls ct Bennie b Thomson 0 D Tharanga ct Drylie b Strachan 34 A Oliver ct Miller b Heath 4 S Paterson ct Bennie b Raven 20 D Moir b Strachan 0 F Rutherford b Strachan 10 C Ormiston c&b Strachan 0 M Hastings not out 0 Extras - 13 Total: 122 for 10 wickets West Lothian J Strachan ct Tharanga b Moir 36 D Drylie ct Halls b Paterson 2 J Miller LBW Paterson 1 C Ronaldson LBW Tharanga 2 A Raven ct Patterson b Moir 30 C Miller ct Tharanga b Moir 6 G Raven b Patterson 6 G Thomson b Halls 7 R Thomson not out 13 G Heath not out 9 Extras - 10 Total: 123 for 8 wickets