Tranent and Preston Village Cricket Club

After a successful June, the more familiar Scottish summer returned to wreak havoc with the season. As a result only one league fixture at the start of the month was possible for both the 1st and 2nd XI, with a total of 8 fixtures lost to the weather across all teams.

The first team played host to Marchmont 2's in their only completed game, and after losing the toss TPV were able to bowl the visitors out for 119 with excellent performances with the ball from Mo Rizwan (8-2-13-2) and Shakeel Abdulla (7-2-19-2), and 3 catches for David King.
In reply, patient batting from Steve Lee (12), Aiden Hoenigmann and Tam Hardwick (both 10) briefly gave the home side hope, but it wasn't to be as they were eventually bowled out for 84.

That result leaves the 1's sitting 4th in the ESCA Division 3 table with a home game against Selkirk next up.


The only action for the 2's was a trip to play Stewarts Melville 3's at Inverleith, and TPV were asked to bat first by their hosts. Some belligerent hitting by Mark Anderson (43), backed up by a very useful 9th-wicket stand between Sabu Mathew (16) and Scott Russell (15*) saw the 2nd team post a healthy 118. Unfortunately impressive batting at the top of the SMRH order meant that it would not be enough, even with an impressive 5-fer for Gary Findlay (7.4-3-18-5), as the home team chased down their target with 13 overs to spare.

The loss means that the 2's currently sit 7th in Division 6 and will face 8th-placed Marchmont 3's next up at Cavalry Park.


There was better luck for the midweek side, both in terms of the weather and on-field success, as they continued their unbeaten season with wins over Eccentric Flamingos and E=MCC.

Against a strong Flamingos side at Meggetland, TPV were able to bowl our hosts out for 73 - a total which always looked below par. Composed batting from Aiden (24*), Avik Dutta (17) and Santosh Kumar (10*) then saw us home inside 16 overs.

Hosting E=MCC on a Polwarth pitch more closely resembling a meadow than a cricket field, TPV set a commanding 111-9 from their 20 overs with excellent batting from Sam Booker (30*), Avik (19), Pavan Jolly and Goutham (both 16). In reply E=MCC never really looked like chasing the total down as the home team took regular wickets, with Aiden (3-2-1-3) the unlikely hero with the ball as TPV sealed a thumping 62-run win.


As we enter the final month of the season there is still much to play for across all teams. Time for a big push to the end of the season, assuming the rain stays away!