CONOR Young switched from rugby to cricket to lead Melrose to a shock win over Gala in the Border 2020 League at Huntlyburn.

Scotland club rugby internationalist Young claimed three wickets and scored a half century as Melrose won by six wickets.

Batting first on a very difficult wicket, Gala tried to hit their way out of trouble rather than build an innings, failing to even reach the end of the 20 overs as they were all out for 88.

Gala got off to a decent start before Duncan Millar was deceived by the low bounce of the wicket and was caught out lbw.

It led to a succession of wickets as Gala were reduced to 49 for 6.

Finlay Rutherford (28) and Kenny Paterson (8) patiently rebuild the innings, putting on 35 before Paterson made a poor decision to run himself out, which led to another collapse as Gala were all out with 10 balls left to bowl.

Australian Young and Douglas Crawford put on 31 for the first wicket, but when Crawford was out, Young continued to dominated, smashing five 6s in his innings of 53.

He was out with the score on 76, and although Melrose lost another wicket, they eventually got home with seven balls to spare to claim a fine win for the Division Four side.

Jamie Crooks claimed two wickets for Gala.

Gala

S. Siddhu ct D. Crawford b C. Young 27

D. Millar lbw R. Williams 6

J. Crooks b D. Howard 4

D. Tharanga lbw b D. Howard 0

S. Evans ct M. Rogerson b C. Young 1

F. Rutherford ct D. Howard b M. Rogerson 28

R. Irvine b O. Phillips 1

K. Paterson run out 8

M. Hastings ct D. King b C. Young 2

A. Hastings b M. Rogerson 0

L. Skeldon not out 0

Extras – 11

Total – 88 for ten wickets

D. Howard 4-0-23-2; R. Williams 3-0-16-1; C. Young 3.2-0-10-3; D. King 4-0-17-0; O. Phillips 2-0-17-1; M. Rogerson 2-0-5-2.

Melrose

C. Young ct J. Crooks b S. Evans 53

D. Crawford ct R. Irvine b D. Tharanga 10

D. King ct M. Hastings b J. Crooks 7

R. Williams not out 16

M. Rogerson ct F. Rutherford b J. Crooks 2

C. Howard not out 1

Extras – 3

Total – 92 for four wickets

D. Tharanga 4-0-15-1; S. Evans 4-1-14-1; R. Irvine 4-0-21-0; J. Crooks 4-0-25-2; F. Rutherford 2.5-0-16-0.