Grange lift the Under 18 Scottish Cup

In blustery conditions at New Williamfield Stirling NVT Poloc met Grange and Carlton took on Arbroath  United in the semi finals of the Under `18 Scottish Cup.

Carlton v Arbroath United

Carlton batted first and were soon in control as the Arbroath bowlers struggled to come to terms with the windy conditions. Opener Tom Barrett carried his bat for 59 as the Edinburgh side closed their twenty overs on 151 for 4, with Matthew Swan the pick of the Arbroath Arrack with 2 for 28 from his four overs.

The Lichties got off to the worst possible start when Scotland Under 17 captain Ross McLean was out off the first ball when he chipped a Mo Ahmed delivery to Nick Martin at square leg. They never recovered from this, and wickets fell at regular intervals before the finished on 87 for 8 in their twenty overs

Carlton defeat Arbroath United by 64 runs [scorecard]

NVT Poloc v Grange

The other semi final was a much keener contested affair.  Grange batting first lost their first wicket with only 5 runs on the board when James Hearn was out, caught by Bilal Chaudhry off the bowling of Umer Aziz.

 This brought Henry Edwards to the crease and he took the attack to NVT Poloc with a hard hitting innings of 71 not out which came from 59 balls, and included six fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Charlie Tresidder batting at four, who finished unbeaten on 46 in a 117 run partnership. Both batsmen punishing any wayward Poloc bowling enabling Grange to close on 152 for 2.

NVT Poloc captain Craig Young opened the batting in reply with Nicholas Lafferty they took the score to 27 before Lafferty became the first of Grange keeper  Matthew Angelini’s five victims , being well caught off the bowling of Scott Mullins.

While Young was at the crease Poloc were always in with a chance of victory, but his departure with the score on 91 saw the later order struggle to keep up with the rate, and they slumped to 128 for 8 in the eighteenth over. Umer Amin and Max Costello with a late flurry took the Shawholm side to 144 for eight losing by eight runs.

NVT Poloc lost to Grange by 8 runs [scorecard]

Final  Grange v Carlton

In the final Tom Barrett was once again the star for Carlton with the bat, again opening the batting he carried his bat for 70 as Carlton closed on 143 for 6.  His knock came from 69 balls and included five fours.  Carlton were assisted by some wayward Grange bowling.  James Hearn going for 17 off his only over as he struggled to find his line and length. Henry Edwards was the pick of the Grange attack with 2 for 29 from his four overs.

Hearn made up for his bowling, opening the batting with Scott Mullins they set about chasing their target and put on 35 for the first wicket before Mullins departed for 18. This brought Henry Edwards to the crease and the two batsmen set up a Grange win with a 79 run partnership, before a mix up led to Edwards being run out, much to his disappointment.

Two runs later Hearn was back in pavilion, and when Charlie Tresidder and Jack Collister also departed soon after the score was 121 for 5 and Grange looked as though they might have blown their chance of victory, with 24 runs required and only three overs left.

However Jzim Sohail and James Munro kept their nerve and saw Grange home to victory off the final delivery, much to the relief of their supporters.

Grange beat Carlton by 5 wickets [scorecard]
 

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