On Saturday Linlithgow looked to keep up their impressive start to the season when they travelled to Barnton in Edinburgh to face Royal High Corstorphine’s (RHC) second string.

The home skipper won the toss and decided to make use of a hard, white wicket which, fortunately, had been well covered and protected from the elements during the previous week.

RHC started slowly, having to defend against lively opening bowlers Gregor and Rory Thomson. With the score on 15, Gregor Thomson ripped out the off stump of opener Angus Sathiy.

A short period of RHC rebuilding followed before the introduction of Jordan Hamilton who was to produce a quite stunning spell of bowling. Conditions were clearly in his favour as he set about Corstorphine’s top order, taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs from his 9 overs.

RHC floundered from 27 for 1 to 35 for the loss of 5 wickets in the blink of an eye leaving the visitors in buoyant mood.

J. Carr survived an early caught behind scare to add a measure of respectability to the RHC score but he struggled to find partners to stay with him as wickets continued to tumble.

The re-introduction of Gregor Thomson at the end of his brother Rory’s spell (1 wicket for 19 runs from 9 overs) saw the visitors clean up the middle to lower order with the minimum of fuss.

Gregor Thomson finished with figures of 3 wickets for 21 runs from his allotted 9 overs.

John Strachan took the final wicket of the innings with RHC finishing on a disappointing 72 runs.

The job half done, Gregor Thomson and Paul Brookes were in no mood to let Corstorphine off the hook as Linlithgow began their innings. The openers were rarely troubled as they took the score to 31 after 10 overs.

Brookes played a superb supporting role alongside the increasingly rampant Thomson who took great delight in carting some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding to all parts.

Gregor secured his second half century of the season in fine style with a casual flick of his hip through square leg. Brookes then finished the match with a sweetly struck 3 through the cover region, sparking scenes of jubilation among the visiting players on the side lines.

Linlithgow have now won their first three matches of the season, collecting the maximum 20 points from this tie and remain joint top of the league alongside Gala.

Next Saturday Linlithgow will take on Stewart’s Melville 2’s at Boghall in a 12 o’clock start.