GALA suffered their second agonisingly defeat in three days when Royal High Corstorphine 2nds beat the Braw Lads on the penultimate ball of the match.

RHC needed seven runs to win going into the final over with Anwar (20) and Dowie (8) scoring the required runs to give the Edinburgh side victory by three wickets.

Gala batted first at Barnton and made a solid start, reaching 99 for the loss of three wickets after 28 overs including top scorer Duncan Millar (33).

But a mid-order collapse saw the visitors reduced to 114 for 6 and in danger of a below par score.

Yet, Gala’s lower order again provided some good resistance as Nick McIntyre (19) and Dean Moir (17) helped their side to a competitive 163 all out. Dowie was top RHC bowler with 3 for 31.

RHC’s innings almost mirrored Gala’s, as they stood on 96 for 3 after 28 overs.

But in an extraordinary over, Jamie Crooks took three wickets to leave RHC 96 for 6 – meaning they needed 68 to win from 16 overs with just four wickets in hand.

Crucially, Rex Hugill was still at the crease and he and Anwar fought back to put on 56 for the seventh wicket.

Hugill was eventually dismissed for 75 after being bowled by Moir with the score on 152, leaving RHC needing 14 off three overs.

An excellent penultimate over by Robbie Irvine only saw two runs conceded but Anwar and Dowie held their nerve to claim all 20 points and leave Gala fifth in Division One.

Gala

S. Siddhu lbw A. Anwar 18

F. Rutherford st R. Clarkson b R. Hugill 14

D. Millar ct A. Lawrie b J. Carr 33

G. Ormiston run out (C. Dowie) 25

R. Irvine b R. Hugill 8

S. Evans ct T. Kelly b C. Dowie 14

J. Crooks ct A. Lawrie b C. Dowie 3

R. Patterson b A. Sathiy 0

N. McIntyre ct R. Hugill b R. Clarkson 19

D. Moir b J. Carr 17

H. Rutherford not out 3

Extras – 9

Total – 163 for ten wickets

A. Anwar 7-2-35-1; R. Clarkson 7-1-21-1; R. Hugill 9-1-23-2; J. Carr 8-1-39-2; C. Dowie 7-0-31-2; A. Sathiy 5-0-12-1.

RHC 2nds

M. Grant ct D. Millar b D. Moir 21

A. Sathiy lbw N. McIntyre 4

R. Hugill b D. Moir 75

J. Carr st D. Millar b S. Evans 25

T. Kelly lbw J. Crooks 2

R. Clarkson b J. Crooks 0

M. Fotheringham b J. Crooks 0

A. Anwar not out 20

C. Dowie not out 8

Extras – 9

Total – 164 for seven wickets

D. Moir 8.5-0-43-2; N. McIntyre 9-2-25-1; S. Evans 9-4-17-1; R. Irvine 9-0-34-0; J. Crooks 9-1-41-3.