Goldenarce (Heriots CC) played host to Cricket Scotland’s U15 Scottish Cup Finals’ Day, in glorious sunshine, on Sunday 13th August 2017. The day saw four teams, who had progressed through regional qualifying matches, come together to put on a great day of cricket, in front of a healthy number of parents and other supporters.
The two semi-finals saw comfortable wins for Clydesdale CC over Carlton CC and Arbroath United CC over Grange CC. Clydesdale’s 151/3 was based around solid contributions from the top order – with Ross Heginbottom (43), skipper Asad Khan (38*), Humza Zulfiqar (31) and David Sturgess (22*) all scoring freely.
Despite skipper Harry Simpson (22) and Gregor McIntyre (38) doing their best to keep Carlton up with the rate, the task proved too much as they finished 108/7. Arbroath’s win over Grange was based around a good bowling effort as, despite 34* from Brodie Miller, skipper Megan McColl’s 3/10 was largely responsible for Grange being restricted to 104/7. In reply, Ben O’Mara scored 53 (retired) and Fergus Duncan 32 as Arbroath cruised home, for the loss of just one wicket, with 4+ overs to spare.
In the 3rd / 4th play-off, Carlton came out on top in the Edinburgh ‘derby’. Although no one passed 30, and despite 3/22 from Dylan Davidson, they scored 126/9 from the 20 overs – a score which proved more than enough, as Grange were bowled out for just 66, in 12.3 overs.
If the Clydesdale batting effort had been impressive in the semi-final, their top order took things to another level in the final. Heginbottom and Khan (both 50, retired) did the main damage, with Tarun Koteeswaran (24*) playing a nice cameo too. Clydesdale 174/2 off their 20 overs. Ben O’Mara carried his good form into the final, with 43 – but no other batter would pass 12, as the Clydesdale bowling attack restricted the flow of runs well.
Seamer Taha Khan took 2/13 from his 4 overs, slow left arm spinner Junaid Rauf took 3/3 and Abhishek Sinha kept up his remarkable season record by taking a wicket for the thirteenth match in row! Arbroath 95/7.
Congratulations to Clydesdale CC on their victory – and thanks to Heriots CC and their groundsman, to the caterers, to the coaches, parents, scorers and umpires, to Willie Donald for coming to do the presentations, to David Potter for providing photography on the day and most importantly to the players for their efforts on the day.
And the short scores:
Clydesdale 151/3 (R Heginbottom 43, A Khan, 38*, H Zulfiqar 31, D Sturgess 22*) beat Carlton 108/7 (G McIntyre 38)
Arbroath United 105/1 (B O’Mara 53 ret, F Duncan 32) beat Grange 104/7 (B Miller 34*, M McColl 3/10)
Carlton 126/9 (D Davidson 3/22) beat Grange 66 all out.
Clydesdale 174/2 (R Heginbottom 50 ret, A Khan 50 ret, T Koteeswaran 24*) beat Arbroath United 95/7 (B O’Mara 43, J Rauf 3/3)
