On Saturday Linlithgow took on Galashiels in a top of the table clash at Boghall. Both sides came into the tie with 3 wins from their opening 3 matches of the season.

Prior to the game starting there was minor controversy as the two sides carried out the toss before the arrival of match umpire, Clive Allen. Linlithgow won the initial toss and made the obvious choice to bowl first on a damp, green wicket. Clive called the two captains together at 12.30 to ask for the toss to be redone. On this occasion the coin landed in favour of the visiting skipper Dinesh, who made no apologies for opting to bowl first.

Paul Brookes and Gregor Thomson walked out to the wicket with both men in great form this season, confident of improving upon their recent successes. Thomson fell to a very sharp piece of wicket keeping, when he was stumped off a wide delivery for just 10 runs with the score on 18.

Kevin Stump joined Brookes in the middle and the pair added another 40 to the score before Stump was adjudged leg before for 23. Craig Black added a rapid 30 with Brookes before he was dismissed to a good catch on the mid-on boundary rope.

Rory Saunders and Brookes, continued where Black had left off by smashing a number of big sixes off some wayward bowling by the Gala side. Like Black, Saunders was eventually caught on the rope for 30 runs with the score on 135.

Alastair Napoli, another player in great form this year, added 19 to the total before he too was caught going for one big hit too many. Two more wickets fell quickly before home skipper Grant Raven joined Paul Brookes who was, by now, entirely at ease having batted throughout the innings.

Brookes past 50 for the first time in Linlithgow colours with the score on 170 for 7 and a little under 8 overs remaining. Raven and Brookes pushed the score on past 200 before Raven was bowled. Given the conditions, Linlithgow were pleased with their total of 215 all out after 44 overs. Paul Brookes played superbly, carrying his bat for the duration of the innings and finishing on 75 not out.

After the tea interval, the visitors knew they had a tough job on their hands given that conditions were still favourable for bowling. Gala started well enough progressing nicely to 35 before the first wicket was taken by Paul Brookes. Their good start soon drained away however as the innings rapidly collapsed to 59 for 8 wickets.

Jordan Hamilton ended with the magnificent bowling figures of 9 overs 6 maidens 4 wickets for just 5 runs whilst Brookes backed up his great knock with 9 overs, 6 maidens, 1 wicket for 7 runs. Grant Blackwell again bowled well, taking 2 wicket for 31 runs, whilst Craig Black and Grant Raven came into the attack to finish off the innings after 39.5 overs.

Gala’s final total of 81 all out, meant Linlithgow won the match by 134 runs and go top of the table outright for the first time this season. Next weekend Linlithgow travel to Edinburgh to face Edinburgh 2’s, hoping to pick up another 20 points.