RH Corstorphine set out Championship credentials with opening day victory

RH Corstorphine 216-4 (S Flett 78, S Stibbs 59*) beat Stuart&Stuart Penicuik 215-6 (M Foulds 60, K Steel 52, M Haq 2 for 18) by 6 wickets.

As the Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship got underway all eyes were turned towards Kirkhill and an intriguing encounter between Stuart&Stuart Penicuik and RH Corstorphine. On a cold day at the end of a week which had seen snow fall in the Midlothian town, the clash provided a first opportunity to gauge the 2017 credentials of two of the top four sides from the 2016 campaign.

The visitors, narrow runners-up to SMRH last season, have made plain their intention to go one better this time around with the eye-catching winter acquisition of spinning all-rounder Majid Haq. Having led Clydesdale to the Western Premier Division and Scottish Cup double last season the thirty four year-old former Scotland international was tempted to make the move east in a major coup for the Barnton-based side.

“I had a good winter off,” he said. “It was nice to get away from cricket and have some time to reflect and get myself really fit as well.

“I’m really enjoying life at Corstorphine, I’m really happy with all the support I’ve had at the club.

“There were a few clubs enquiring about me when I became available but Corstorphine showed the biggest amount of interest and that was very important. I have to feel wanted by a club after my last experience and they were very welcoming and genuine.

“Arnie Sathiy and [club president] Jim McFadyen came through to Glasgow two or three times to meet me which I really appreciated. The captain Joe Kinghorn-Gray is a very impressive young guy too.

“There’s a lot of talent in the side. They are eager and keen to learn which is so important. They know they have a lot of work to do if they want to become one of the best teams in Scotland and that’s always my aim, to play and be the best team in Scotland.

“I’m very happy with my move and fingers crossed we’ll do well this year. I think our prospects are excellent.”

Kinghorn-Gray is looking forward to the season with similar optimism.

“I think we’re in a very good position and we’re raring to go,” he said. “We had a good winter and made a couple of good additions.

“Maj arriving with his experience is a big boost for everyone, everyone can learn from the man who has played the most amount of cricket and taken the most wickets for Scotland. We had a very good pro last year in Daniel Payne who scored a lot of runs and did a good job but to replace him with someone who can match him with the bat and also bring what he can with the ball is fantastic.

“Robert Thompson will be a big player for us again, he’s looking to kick on this season and score some more runs after being our top local player last year,” he continued. “Ossie Malik, who has previously been top run-scorer, is also important for us, as is Callum Dutia, who took fourteen wickets or so last season at an average of six or seven.

“But we’re very much a team. We look to back each other and do things as a team.”

Penicuik, meanwhile, go into the new season on the back of a solid fourth-place finish last time out. Although the loss of overseas players Craig Thyssen and Heynrych Nel, together with the retirement of former Scotland cap Stuart Chalmers, is significant, their absence has been balanced by the winter acquisition of Australian overseas amateurs Nik Kartas and Cameron Bradley together with former Scotland U19 Lyle Hill.

Captain Chris Ashforth is pleased with the group of players at his disposal.

“Over the winter we’ve made some good additions to our team,” he said. “We’ve already got a lot of young talent in the side but adding the two young lads from Australia, Nik, who is a top order batsman and Cameron, who is an opening bowler, has really strengthened us.

“They went well in the pre-season games, look great in the nets as well, so we’re really happy to have them on board. Lyle Hill, too, is a really handy all-rounder and he’s settled in well too.

“Compared to last season I think this is a more rounded side and I’m really pleased to be where we are.

“In terms of the league we’re not looking too far ahead,” he continued. “Last year we know we slipped up in a couple of games where we shouldn’t have and that ultimately cost us. We’re a young side this year but we know that within it we’ve got the capability to beat anyone.”

The Midlothian side will hope for another big season from elegant left-hander Matthew Foulds, and having elected to bat first on a dry, tufty pitch both he and Calum Steel made largely untroubled progress against the RHC attack in an opening stand of 71.

Steel (27), a mixture of wristy drives and dabs behind the wicket, provided an ideal foil to his prolific opening partner before being deceived by a beautifully flighted ball from Majid which knocked back middle stump.

The wicket put a check on the scoring, and with spin operating from both ends over the middle overs progress was largely confined to singles. Gradually, however, the shackles loosened as Foulds and Kris Steel looked to press on as, with wickets in hand, the innings entered its final phase.

So often the anchor of the Penicuik batting last season, Foulds again looked classy, and after bringing up his fifty in the 34th over began to play with much more freedom, hitting Kinghorn-Gray over the top for four. The RHC skipper was to have his revenge, however, as Foulds (60), looking to repeat the shot off the first delivery of the returning Majid, lofted the ball to him at deep extra cover.

Steel (52) also completed a half century as a strong finish brought the home side to total of 215-6.

With the score on 24 the RHC reply got off to a faltering start with the dismissal of the dangerous Thompson (20), LBW to Bradley. The tall, slingy Australian looks a handy acquisition for Penicuik, bowling on a good length and hitting the bat hard, and with Malik (12) trapped in front by Ashforth and Majid forced to bat with a runner after injuring his knee in the field the home side looked well-placed.

Despite his incapacity Majid’s familiarly languid class was underlined by several beautifully timed cover drives as the scoring began to pick up. Disaster was to follow in the 13th over, however, as a catastrophic mix-up between runner and non-striker resulted in Majid’s run out for 18, leaving RHC wobbling at 58-3.

Regular boundaries continued to keep the scoreboard moving, however, and Sam Stibbs and winter signing Sam Flett took RHC past 100 in the 24th over to bring the game back into the balance. With the century partnership coming in the 36th, aided by two dropped catches, the game quickly swung the way of the visitors.

Despite losing Flett for an excellent 78 the target was reached in the 46th over to underline what had become a comfortable victory for what will surely be the team to beat this season.