Linlithgow to play host to ESCA season finale

Edinburgh teams Drummond Trinity, Morton and Marchmont will make the trip out west to join Linlithgow at Boghall for Finals Day of the Felsham PD Braw Skelp on Saturday.
The showpiece finale was Edinburgh teams Drummond Trinity, Morton and Marchmont will make the trip out west to join Linlithgow at Boghall for Finals Day of the Felsham PD Braw Skelp on Saturday.

The showpiece finale was originally scheduled for 15th August but had to be pushed back a week with Morton spending the day winning the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup in a thrilling final. Wet weather then intervened on the reserve date, but finally the teams will get to battle it out to be crowned the T20 champions of ESCA.

Facing off in the first semi-final, beginning at 10.30am, are Morton and Linlithgow. Freshly-crowned Division 1 champions Linlithgow won three of their four group games, with the remaining game against Leith FAB being forfeited. Scores of 163-8, 170-4 and 155-6 proved well beyond the reach of Marchmont, Musselburgh and Boroughmuir respectively.

Meanwhile Championship side Morton won games against Kirk Brae and Stuart&Stuart Penicuik (by just 2 runs) to secure their spot at Finals Day, before being beaten by Drummond Trinity.

Trinity go through as the only side with a perfect record, having scored at least 150 runs while batting first in each of their three group games and none of Morton, Stuart&Stuart Penicuik or Kirk Brae being able to mount a successful chase.

They will play Marchmont in the second semi-final, who made it through thanks to wins over Boroughmuir and Leith FAB who both finished equal on points with the Championship side. Both games followed similar patterns with Marchmont bowling their opponents out cheaply before chasing down the small targets for ten-wicket and eight-wicket wins respectively.

The winners of the two semi-finals will then face off for the trophy to finish off what is sure to be an entertaining finale to the season for all teams involved.

We thank Phil Neaves and Felsham PD (www.felshampd.co.uk) for their sponsorship of the trophy again this year.

Sam Dyer