Pentland claim the glory at inaugural Inter-Area event

PENTLAND AREA were the inaugural winners of last week's Eastern Regional Academy Inter-Area cricket tournament.

Day one saw Pentland in action against Forth Valley at The Arns, Alloa, where they were winners by 9 wickets. Although the home side lost an early wicket to a smart stumping by Simon Whait off the pace bowling of George Hairs, they were making steady progress until left-arm seamer Gair Currie (2 for 8) made a breakthrough.

The introduction of spin bowling saw Forth Valley collapse to 56 all out with left armers Chris Cash and Alex Green taking 3 for 3 and 2 for 2 respectively. Cash, the captain, was undefeated on 20 and had Thomas Docherty with him when Pentland eased past the home total.

Batting first on day two against Borders at Penicuik, Pentland scored runs all through the order to reach 168 for 6 from their allotted 35 overs. Although Borders used all their overs, they too had no answer to Cash who repeated his figures of 3 for 3, this time from his full quota of seven overs. Currie, with 2 for 7, was the most successful of the other bowlers in the 106-run victory.

Meanwhile, having been rained off against the Borders, North Edinburgh & East Lothian beat Forth Valley by 79 runs at Raeburn Place to set up a decider on day three with Pentland. In an epic encounter at New Williamfield, Stirling, Pentland showed great character to triumph.

Twice they looked to be down and out, but they were rescued by vital contributions with both bat and ball by William Brown.

Batting first on a bowler-friendly wicket, Pentland were 7 for 5 due to some superb seam bowling by Charlie Buchanan-Smith and William Edwards. Brown combined with left-hander Simon Whait in a partnership of 79, and positive batting by Alex Docherty and Iain Martin in the lower order boosted the final tally.

Although Pentland had two early successes Zander Muir and William Edwards scored freely for the combined Area, except against Cash whose accurate spin they were content to defend. At 84 for 3 and then 112 for 4, N.E. & E.L. seemed poised for victory, but the re-entry to the attack of opening bowlers Hairs and Brown enabled Pentland to regain the initiative, with Alex Docherty and Gair Currie closing out the 15-run victory.

Borders secured third place by defeating Forth Valley.

Scores:

Forth Valley 56 (C. Cash 3/3, A. Green 2/2, G. Currie 2/8); Pentland 57/1 (C. Cash 20*)

Pentland 168-6 (W. Brown 23, G. Currie 20; L. Baird 3/35); Borders 62/9 (C. Cash 3/3, G. Currie 2/7)

North Edin. & E. Lothian 145 (Z. Muir 40, A. Robb 21, M. Tierney 5/26); Forth Valley 66/9 (W. Edwards 3/18)

Pentland 139/9 (W. Brown 56*, C. Buchanan-Smith 5/10); North Edin. & E. Lothian 124 (W. Edwards 39, Z. Muir 38; W. Brown 3/13)