Last updated 21:57, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

LANGHOLM kept their hopes of Border League glory alive with a 10-wicket victory over Selkirk at the Castleholm last Saturday.

Heavy showers about an hour before the start almost put paid to any action but hard work by the ground staff enabled the pitch to be playable for a late 3pm start.

Border League rules say the least number of overs that can be bowled in each innings is 30 and this was agreed by both teams.

The home captain Duncan Elliott won the toss and sent Selkirk in to bat. Grant Kinghorn (5) was caught at short mid-off in the first over by Gregor Park off the bowling of Steve Johnstone.

J Everett (24) was dropped early on but then smashed a good couple of sixes and a four before going to a Gregor Park catch from the bowling of his brother Graham.

Selkirk wickets began to tumble and they went from 31 for 2 to 31 for 5. Gregor Fenton (10) was the only other to reach double figures. Selkirk were all out for 52 in 29 overs.

In the Langholm bowling Elliott had 3 for 15 and Johnstone 2 for 9, with Graham Park 2 for 20. Colin Jardine and Gregor Park had one wicket each.

Graham Park and Colin Turk opened for Langholm and reached 27 in five overs.

With rain threatening, Graham Park went for quick runs and in one over cracked a two and four superb sixes in a row to pass the Selkirk total. He finished with 49 not out and Turk was one not out, with Langholm on 54 in six overs.

SELKIRK

G Kinghorn c R G Park b Johnstone 5

A Massie b G Park 0

J Everett c R G Park b G Park 24

E Gardner b Johnstone 0

G Fenton c Tait b Elliott 10

B Amos run out 5

D Fenton b Elliott 4

N Gentleman lbw Jardine 0

L Oliver b Elliott 0

J Reid c Maxwell b R G Park 1

R Edwards not out 0

Extras 3

Total 52

LANGHOLM

G Park not out 49

C Turk not out 1

Extras 4

Total (for 0) 54

Did not bat: R G Park, E Wilson, D Elliott, S Johnstone, M Pearn-Rowe, C Jardine, C Tait, C Stewart and B Maxwell.

The Langholm 2nd X1 are still top of the reserve Border League because Gala could not raise a team. They had a senior fixture on Sunday and lacked player numbers.