Kelso vs Carlton 3rds – Grange Loan 07/05/2023
Recourt Continues the Kelso Rejuvenation
Kelso make it two wins from two with a comfortable victory against Carlton 3rds at Grange Loan on Sunday.
After winning the toss Kelso captain Greg Davidson decided to bowl on what was a firm but damp and green wicket at Grange Loan in Edinburgh. The downpours on Saturday had put some doubt that the game would go ahead but thanks to the excellent work from the Carlton ground staff play was able to start on time.
Kelso got themselves off to a great start with J. Connelly picking up where he left off last week dismissing young Carlton opener J. Stronach for 0 in the first over, with a delivery that nipped away from the right-handed batsman and caught the outside edge going through to give J. Recourt his first dismissal of the day. The new Kelso wicketkeeper was back in the action in the eighth over creating something out of nothing with a very sharp stumping off the bowling of G. Davidson to restrict the hosts to 24-2.
The tenth over brought C. Davidson into the attack and Kelso continued to build the pressure. With the run rate slowing C. Davidson picked up the wicket of C.A. Sale for 15, which was well caught at short fine leg by K. Burns who steadied himself under the high ball to take the catch. G. Davidson picked up his second of the afternoon in the next over teaming up with Recourt behind the stumps to dismiss I. Foley for 10 leaving the hosts in trouble at 47 for 4.
This is where Kelso really started to turn the screw and with C. Davidson picking up his second wicket of the afternoon just after the drinks the hosts were struggling at 68-5. Young Kelso bowler K. Keddie was brought into the attack and the youngster continued from where C. Davidson had left off building the pressure and picking himself up his first two wickets for Kelso 1st XI. Both catches taken by J. Recourt behind the stumps to give him his fourth and fifth dismissal of the afternoon. J. Frame was soon into the action firstly dismissing S. Smith thanks to a sharp catch at point by J. Gibson he then went and got himself another in the same over leaving him for figures of 0-2 for the afternoon. J. Connelly picked up the final Carlton wicket restricting the hosts to 116 All Out in the 37th Over.
With a target of 117 Kelso openers G. Davidson and J. Frame looked to get their side off to a positive start. Having looked in relative comfort Carlton got the breakthrough in the 8th over when J. Frame was caught in two minds and was caught and bowled by F. Foley for 8, leaving Kelso 18-1. J. Recourt came to the crease looking to build on his start last week and build on it he did. With some classy strokes and good rotation of the strike Recourt and G. Davidson were able to build a partnership of 43 before Davidson fell for 17 being cleaned bowled by D. Firth. Recourt continued to take the attack to Carlton putting the bad ball away to the boundary while continuing to rotate the strike. Young J. Dickson fell for 4 being bowled by Carlton spinner V. Nagrajan, before a moment of madness from Kelso all-rounder C. Davidson saw him fall the next ball as he was run out trying to steal a second run. The afternoon belonged to Recourt who along with his six dismissals behind the stumps brought up his 50 with a lovely, lofted shot over mid-off, to get Kelso within 15 runs of the win. The wicketkeeper batsman eventually finished 61 not out as he guided Kelso to back-to-back wins and a victory margin of 5 wickets. Kelso look to keep the momentum going on Saturday as they welcome RHC to Shedden Park on Ladies Day.