In a closely contested match, Musselburgh Cricket Club 2nd XI secured a vital victory over Tranent and Preston Village Cricket Club 3rd XI, winning by 11 runs to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

After winning the toss, Musselburgh opted to bat first. However, their innings got off to a shaky start when opener Bhargav Kommia was dismissed for a duck. Captain Matt Boyd then anchored the innings with a well-constructed 37, providing stability at the top. Contributions from Sri Ramachandrappa (11), Lawrence Dingre (18), Masood Alam (13), and D. Peel (20) helped to build the score, but it was Umar Aman who provided the late impetus. His quickfire 26 off just 15 balls pushed Musselburgh to a competitive total of 143.

For Tranent and Preston Village, Kuntal Mukherjee was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 39 runs. Chiru Beduduri (2/20) and Muhammad Rizwan (2/19) also played key roles in restricting Musselburgh’s score.

In response, Tranent and Preston Village started steadily but soon lost their first wicket with just 18 runs on the board. Musselburgh’s bowlers then applied pressure consistently, making it difficult for any of the visiting batsmen to settle in. Despite some resistance from the lower order, with Athul Nair scoring 21, Muhammad Rizwan adding 18, and both Chiru Beduduri and Raviteja Mankola chipping in with 13 each, the chase faltered. Tranent and Preston Village ultimately fell short, finishing on 132 all out, 11 runs shy of their target.

Musselburgh’s bowlers were instrumental in defending the modest total. Lawrence Dingre was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs. Sri Ramachandrappa supported well with 2/23, while Masood Alam delivered a crucial spell at the death, also claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs to seal the victory.

This win lifts Musselburgh off the bottom of the table with two games remaining in the season, giving them a fighting chance to avoid relegation.