On Saturday Linlithgow faced Royal High Corstorphine at Boghall. The match was reduced to 30 overs a side as the weather forecast suggested heavy rain later in the afternoon.

Linlithgow won the toss and invited RHC to bat first on a cloudy afternoon where conditions looked good for bowling.

That decision soon paid dividend as Grant Blackwell (3 wickets for 5 runs from 6 overs) and Jordan Hamilton (3 wickets for 17 runs from 6 overs) left Corstorphine 4 wickets down with just 14 runs on the board.

Batsman T. Luke (54 runs) and J. Carr added respectability to the visitors’ total with a 78 run partnership. However, when Linlithgow made the breakthrough the remaining RHC batsman did not offer much resistance and they were bowled out for 113 in just 29 overs. Andrew McElhatton did a remarkable job at finishing off the RHC innings as he took 4 wickets for just 8 runs from 3 overs.

Linlithgow were in bouyant mood at the tea interval as the prospect of a first victory in 5 weeks looked likely.

Paul Brookes and John Strachan opened the batting for the home side and played positively from the outset. The pair shared in an opening stand of 35 before Strachan was caught at gully for 11 runs.

Paul Brookes went on to make 43 runs together with number 3, Chris Ronalson who made 31. Their partnership of 60 runs took Linlithgow to within sight of victory.

Alastair Napoli joined Ronalson at the crease after Brookes was eventually bowled by visiting skipper Clarkson. These two saw Linlithgow home with 4 overs to spare.

Linlithgow won the match by 7 wickets and collected 20 points.

Next weekend Linlithgow travel into Edinburgh to face Stewarts Melville’s second team in a 1pm start.