Last updated 12:02, Thursday, 28 August 2008

Confusion reigned at the end of the Border cricket league this season after Langholm finished undefeated but not champions.

Langholm bowler Graham Park had a career best of seven wickets for five runs in 6.5 overs in their victory over Melrose on Saturday

St Boswells have claimed the title because the rules say teams have to play half of their Border League fixtures, plus one.

Langholm have claimed the title because, although the rules say they have to play half their games plus one, it does not say complete the match.

Langholm have had two games abandoned which, as far as the club is concerned, count if you use the term ‘play’.

St Boswells played Kelso last Saturday in a Border league match and both teams, along with the Border League, agreed to count it as a Border league cup game and this appears to be breaking the rules.

If Langholm thought doubling up league and cup games was a possibility, they would have tried that the previous week at Hawick where they won the cup match. But they thought it was against Border league rules.

Langholm thinks the best outcome would be if Langholm and St Boswells played a Border league decider.

Langholm finish Border League undefeated

Langholm ended their league campaign with an easy six-wickets victory over Melrose at the Castleholm last Saturday.

They finished undefeated in the league but, unfortunately, under the current rules, are not champions.

This is extremely disappointing for players and supporters of the Castleholm club and it appears that if one more fixture had been played, Langholm could have been champions.

Melrose turned up two players short and had to borrow a couple of up-and-coming Langholm teenagers.

Melrose were dismissed by 30 runs, the lowest total from an opposing team since Lanark were bowled out for 22 in 1985. Home bowler Graham Park had a career best of 7 wickets for 5 runs in 6.5 overs.

Melrose won the toss and opened the batting on a slightly soft wicket. Stuart McKay was clean-bowled by Steve Johnstone (2), and Ward (3) quickly followed when dismissed by the same bowler to make it 14 for 2.

Melrose plugged away and when reaching 11 overs were on 20. At that stage, Graham Park took over the bowling from skipper Duncan Elliott.

The visitors were soon in trouble when Grant Fletcher secured a diving catch from the second delivery of Park to send Mirley (15) back to the pavilion. Park clean-bowled Sutherland for a duck in the same over to leave Melrose on 20 for 4.

Barry Scott (20) was caught by Chris Tait off a Park delivery and he snapped up Mark Runciman for a duck to make it 24 for 6.

Baird (1) was caught behind the wicket by Gregor Park off his brother’s delivery and Scott was out for a duck. Colin Turk secured the wicket of Loftus for a duck and Melrose were all out for 30 in the 24th over.

In the home bowling Graham Park had 7 for 5 in 6.5 overs, Johnstone 2 for 12 and Turk 1 for 3.

There was a change in the usual batting order, with Jack Pool and Neil Stewart opening for Langholm. Pool was dismissed first ball by Mirley who also secured the wicket of Stewart for a duck, and two wickets were down for only one run.

Grant Fletcher (11) joined Euan Wilson and the score reached 20 before Fletcher was bowled by Ward. Sutherland skittled Wilson (10) and it was 24 for 4.

Matt Pearn-Rowe (1) and Gregor Park (9) were still at the wicket when they passed the visitors’ total to finish on 33 in nine overs.

In the Melrose bowling Sutherland had 1 for 2 in one over, Mirley 2 for 8 from 4 overs and Ward 1 for 14.

Friendly win for Langholm

As the match against Melrose finished rather early, a 20/20 friendly was quickly organised.

Melrose opened the batting and reached 18 before Elliott went on to bowl and soon picked up the wicket of Scott, who was caught behind by Pool, then Ward fell the same way for a duck.

Turk picked up three wickets from good bowling, with Gregor Park, Wilson and Johnstone getting one each and Melrose were on 42 for 7.

Collins (12) and Sutherland (14) batted well to help carry the Melrose score along and the visitors were eventually all out for 68.

For Langholm, Graham Park and Jack Pool (4) reached 21 before the latter was bowled.

David Pool was bowled for a duck but the Park brothers, Graham (41) and Gregor (22) secured the win.

Langholm win 20/20 match at Gala

Langholm travelled to Gala last Sunday with an understrength team for a 20/20 match but the home side were also without players, having sent a squad to the Berwick Sixes.

Langholm were worthy winners with Gregor and Graham Park still at the wicket on 38 each when the home total was passed.

In the Langholm bowling Johnstone had 1 for 9, with Steele 1 for 11 and Gregor Park 1 for 19.

Euan Wilson opened the batting for Langholm with Graham Park but Wilson went for a duck when caught by Irvine off former Scotland B player David Ormiston.

Steele (18) was eventually run out to put Langholm on 37 for 2.

A missed catch by Gala at the start of Gregor Park’s innings proved costly after the brothers went on to pass the home total to finish on 100 for 2 in the 18th over.

Win for 2nds

Kinmount visited the Castleholm last Sunday to take on a mainly young Langholm 2nd X1. The Langholm side won an enjoyable match played in fine weather.

Kinmount opened the batting and stalwart Anthony Steel was run out for 6 with the score on 16.

James Blackburn clean-bowled Barnard for a duck and Grieve (33) was caught by Curry from a Jamie Gormley delivery and Kinmount were on 52.

David Little got rid of Fife (18) thanks to a good bit of work behind the stumps by Andy Ritchie, and Veitch soon followed, also caught by the same player from the bowling of Colin Little. Kinmont were all out for 119.

In the home bowling, Scott had 2 for 6, D Little 1 for 6, C Little 1 for 10, Blackburn 1 for 11, Rae 1 for 12, Gormley 1 for 18 and Masterton 1 for 19.

Curry and Blackburn opened for Langholm and Curry fell to Veitch for 6. Scott was out for 3 and Rae for a duck and Langholm were in trouble on 19 for 3.

Old stager Colin Turk joined Blackburn and they added 92 with Turk hitting 7 fours and a six and finished still at the wicket on 67 when the Kinmount total was passed.

Blackburn (17) went out after the pair had been together for 30 overs, which is exceptional for a young player. Colin Little hit the winning runs.