A tale of a tail - 2s win!

On a day that brought back memories of childhood summers, with the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of leather against willow in the background emanating from Heriots’ 1st XI game, we were unsurprisingly asked to field having lost the toss. An earlyish wicket from Zeeshan was followed by a prolonged fruitless period at which we were going for 6 an over, with Fraser Suttie making hay following a four year period out of cricket. Thankfully Amjid got going in his fourth over and promptly sent back Suttie for 50 (pies always get the good ones out!), followed by the number 3 and 5 to register his first hat trick for the club. We kept plugging away in the heat and, as the run rate slowed, wickets started to fall at regular intervals, bowling them all out in 33.2 overs for 145. A top effort by an energetic and youthful 2s (well, everything is relative).

Zeeshan – 2 for 32 off 6
Andy G – 1 for 27 off 5.2
Amjid – 4 for 26 off 6
Pope – 1 for 35 off 7
Gerry – 2 for 18 off 9

Having enjoyed our tea whilst watching the game on the main square (where the oppos scored 277 off 50) we put on our pads knowing that our batting line-up had been bolstered by only playing five bowlers. Little did skip know that it was actually the bowlers who could bat. By the 23rd over we had been reduced to 51 for 6. At this point Andy Graham came to the crease to be unsurprisingly, but nonetheless disappointingly, greeted soon after by references to his technique. To be fair, many of the observations appear correct, but if you can hit the ball as well as Andy, you should realise quite quickly that he isn’t a true 'bunny' and just button it. He and Amjid put on 46 for the 7th wicket before Andy was bowled by their leg spinner. Amjid and Pope followed soon after leaving us 101 for 9 in the 32nd over. By this point skip was tallying up the bonus points to be gained from a loss and getting ready to pack his bag to go and watch the 1s at Arbo. As for Heriots, they were already showered, changed and onto their 3rd pint. Zeeshan had been joined by Gerry at the crease and having realised that the ball wasn’t doing anything, the pair proceeded to get the scoreboard ticking again – and boy did it tick! The 34th over brought 7 runs, this was followed by 3 maidens – but no panic, 33 needed off 9. The 37th went for 6, the 38th for 9, the 39th for 5. By this point even Shifty had stood up to watch, with the team cheering every run. 133 for 9 off 39. The 40th went for 11, with Zeeshan sending the ball over the bowlers head for a very well struck 4 and both he and Gerry just ‘nurdling’ the 1s and 2s on offer. By this point several members of the Heriots team were doing their nut. First ball of the 41st over was nudged to backward square, fumbled, and a quick single followed, albeit following some stop start running in the middle, scores were now tied. Gerry then saw out a couple of dot balls before thumping the next through cover. Skipper, umpiring at square, collected the 40 fag buts he had liberally sprinkled in the preceeding 15 overs then gladly accepted the hand and congratulations of the opposition skipper, a sensation not experienced since 21 June 2008!

No 7) Amjid – 19
No 8) Andy G – 18
No 9) Pope – 1
No 10) Zeeshan – 23 not out
No 11) Gerry – 14 not out