Cricket: SMRH post convincing cup win

Batsmen Brayden Tracey and Martin Speirs were in the runs and the bowlers were all on form as SMRH easily saw off West Lothian with a polished team performance in their opening Scottish Cup group match on Saturday.

With the weather having been poor, not many local clubs have had much outdoor training or meaningful pre-season friendlies, but SMRH hit the ground running at Boghall in the Group G encounter to win by 186 runs.

Opening batsman Speirs led the way with 76 for the visitors while Tracey came in at No. 4 and hit 85 not out as SMRH posted 232-3 from their 50 overs.

The bowlers were all on the spot from minute one and never let West Lothian settle in their reply. New recruit Ollie Knight showed his promise with two wickets opening the bowling while Vishal Shah, Robin Crouch and Greg Ruthven also took two wickets apiece.

Skipper Cedric English and Rich Hannam both took one each as West Lothian were skittled out for 46 in just 19.3 overs.

Holders Heriot’s went to Falkland in Group E and won by seven wickets.

Sean Weeraratna, Mark Watt and Keith Morton took two wickets apiece as the hosts were bowled out for 120.

Teenager Watt’s figures were 2-26 from 13 overs including six maidens while Morton took 2-8 from six overs and the spin duo will be key or the Goldenacre outfit in 2013. Cam Farrell, the hero in last year’s final, led the way with the bat with 45 not out to help secure a routine win.

Watsonians’ new skipper, Ewan Chalmers, blasted 93 runs in quick time as last year’s finalists defeated Freuchie in Group D. Dewald Nel, Stuart Chalmers and Craig Wright took three wickets apiece as Freuchie were restricted to 161 all out at Myreside.

Early on in their reply the Capital side were 1 for 2 with Mark Yellowlees and Andy Hislop back in the pavilion, but Ewan Chalmers made 93 in just 51 balls while Stuart Chalmers and James Easton gave him good support with 44 not out and 23 not out respectively as they won by seven wickets.

Stand-in skipper Andrew Brock’s 35 not out saw Grange home against Greenock at Glenpark. The Stockbridge outfit bowled out the home side for 105 in Group F and, after an early wobble in reply, Brock’s runs gave Grange victory by six wickets.

Hamish Gardiner made a stunning top-team competitive debut for Carlton, hitting the winning runs with a huge six as they defeated RH Corstorphine in Group C.

After a minute’s silence for the club’s ex-secretary, Martin Flynn, Carlton’s bowlers did a good job to restrict the visitors to 126 all out, South African Ruben Hattingh top scoring for RHC with 34. Gardiner, who learnt his trade at Carlton as a youngster and has now returned from Brisbane, hit a composed 65 not out with the highlight being the aforementioned six that cleared the wall as they won by eight wickets.

Penicuik went to Stoneywood-Dyce in Group B, but came back down the road on the wrong end of a 114 run loss, being bowled out for just 65.