Home skipper Tharanga won the toss and elected to bat. Gala made a good start with the score reaching 45 before the first wicket fell in the tenth over. Linlithgow fought back well and reduced the home side to 60 for 4 wickets after 18 overs.

The steady pace of the innings continued and the home side reached 115 for the loss of 6 wickets after 40 overs.

The final 5 overs brought 40 runs for the loss of only one additional wicket as Gala finished with a score of 155 for 7 wickets. The top wicket takers were veterans Alan Williamson with figures of 3 wickets for 24 runs and Paul Brookes with 2 wickets for 32.

Linlithgow’s reply got off to a bad start when Paul Brookes edged behind without scoring in the first over of the innings.

John Strachan was joined by Kevin Stump and they took the score to 19 before Stump was caught behind for 12.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals as Linlithgow struggled against some tight bowling from the home side. John Strachan was the only batsman to offer any real resistance as he past 50 for the first time this season. Meanwhile, new partners were coming thick and fast at the other end.

Will Nettleton scored 17 and Chris Whitton 10 as the visitors briefly threatened to get themselves within touching distance of the required total.

Linlithgow’s hopes of victory ended when John Strachan was caught at mid-off for exactly 50. Gala won the match by 38 runs and remain top of the league with 3 games remaining; Linlithgow remain mid-table. Next Saturday the 1st eleven face Edinburgh CC at Boghall at 1pm .

Harps