Meadows Mayhem.

Andy G reports on a 3rd XI victory at the Meadows. A Shame the '1sts' couldn't do the same on Wednesday.

After negotiating the start of a pre season hockey match on Thursday night the #fuds managed to gather 11 for Saturday’s epic tie against Watsonians.

After much emailing on Friday morning we obtained the crucial information that vegetarians were not  allowed in Watsonians which meant we could crack on with the inspired idea of a BBQ and beer cricket day at the Meadows. Elmo became available late which meant we had a real south African braai!

Anyway, after organising folk to bring meat, some of the highlights - Parker with his lemon and pepper marinated chicken wings, Elmondt had procured a large south African sausage and Mark and I brought our chipolatas as well as soya sauce pork chops. I must admit it was a pretty impressive feast!

So whilst Parker’s chicken was marinading overnight we decided the thing to do was go for a few drinks – in order to be able to bat well the following day. Parker, me, Henton, Elmondt, Mark and Alex were all out – therefore guaranteeing runs and wickets according to the Holy Cross 3^rd XI laws of cricket.

We ended up in Garibaldis till 2.30am – with my girlfriend’s dad who is 62.

Great night out …

The next day, with some sore heads, we descended on the Meadows to find an unmarked, unprepared wicket. Watsons were happy to play which was great. Fag buts were used to mark out a crease and some plastic cutlery was pulled out of the stump holes and we were good to go.

I went out for the toss – hoping to bat second so we could finish off the beer and eat what remained of the BBQ but the Watson’s skip won and stuck us in. Alex opened with Mr Hopkinson. It seemed like a good idea, Alex would get some good time at the crease and Greg is the classiest bat to feature for the 3s since Richard Ellis. 

Unfortunately the partnership was a short one. Two balls into Alex's innings he was bowled by a 12 yr old. At first he proclaimed that the young man was swinging it both ways, then cutting it in at a 45 degree angle, save to say the only thing that was at 45 degrees was Cruickshank who was bent over laughing at Alex's shot!

That brought Dave 'the bin-raker' Coaton out of the traps. A drive through extra cover started his scoring and it was looking good. Greg then fell for 19 ... Bowled

I then came in to bat with Dave, this could be an exciting partnership – led by general banter and captain 3 runs. It started really well, 21 runs off 3 overs but it was over when Dave nicked it into the keeper’s gloves.

This brought Parkie out to the green green wicket. Watsons brought on a young off spinner at the Marchmont end – this made the leg side boundary about 3 feet away from the square and the off side boundary about 100 ft away – not the smartest end to choose from the young lad against 2 hockey players. Fair to say we capitalised on this … our partnership was 62 off 7 overs then Parkie was bowled.

This was the second funniest wicket of the day. Pitching just outside leg and travelling further down leg Parker tried to defend it but missed, it then hit his pad, his foot and rolled slowly onto the stumps tickling the bails off. He stood for a few seconds, gave a look of bemusement and disgust... then walked off.

Cruicky came in as cheery as ever, in the first three balls we ran 8 runs, at which point the garibaldi’s specials caught up with us and mark exclaimed that those would be the last of the 3s. The next shot was definitely a 3 but Mark refused to run them at all.

The partnership flourished, Mark played some actual cricket shots and I even got a 4 through the covers with a back foot drive! Unbelievable.

With Mark and me trotting along nicely I got my ton  and was given permission from Mark to have a swing! Not that I was going slowly before we were going at 8 an over! At the 28^th over they decided to bring on their 9^th bowler, 4, 2, top edge straight up – 4 12 year olds look like they are about to collide but a booming voice of the old boy who was the 9^th bowler got shot of them pretty quickly. He clutched it and I was gone. Out trotted Craig Wright – duck! 2^nd in 2 competitive games for the Cross.(he did score a few mid week against Grange cricket in the hockey v cricket game).

Jamie Johnstone have never scored a run in competitive cricket then hit 16 – including a huge 6 over to Jawbone Walk! Elmo finished not out and the funniest dismissal of the day was Matt Henton at no 11.  He took middle, took a good stance then preceded to leave a ball that pitched in line and hit the middle of middle stump!

Hiliarious and a good finish to a cracking innings 291 all out with 2 overs to spare!

We then had a cracking BBQ and then it started to rain … boooo!

So we took to the field and mucked about a bit as the ball got more and more out of shape – after 5 overs it looked like smudge’s dog had had his way with it!

Coco opened well but with no reward getting 0-13 off 8. Henton opened at the other end but because we thought we better tie up the 20 overs quickly to get a result he ended 3-16 after 4. Parker came on at the other end getting an lbw with his first ball – inspired captaining! 

We held 1 catch through Craigy Wright at point, pretty tough one too!

Craig ‘im a batsman’ Wright replaced Parker at the 20^th over he bowled darts – very similar to shifty – and was rewarded with the last wicket – coco did drop one and parker another!

Elmo was superb – 4 wickets for 2 runs – would have had 5 wickets for 0 if Coco could catch!

Anyway onwards and upwards – smellies will be difficult no doubt! But with captain Mcmonagle at the helm im sure we’ll be fine!

League Weekend 15

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs RH Corstorphine at Arbo.
• 2nds vs Largo 2nds, away.
• 3rds vs SMRH 4ths, (not very far) away.

Midweek cricket is now over for the 2014 season.

Subdued but Significant Seconds' Success

After our early season run of three wins and a tie, things haven't been going so well lately. So we approached the return match with Preston Village slightly nervously: three of our remaining five fixtures were against the top three; PV had been struggling themselves and would be looking for a win; and availability was poor.

But if our availability was poor, PV's was worse and they arrived with just nine men. Smudger won the toss and, with rain forecast for later, had no hesitation in doing what he always does anyway and deciding to bowl. Vik (6-1-9-2) and Popey (5-1-8-1) opened up in such a tight, aggressive fashion that it was a surprise when the first wicket fell to a run-out as Vik pulled off a good stop in the gully and, with Popey's assistance, ran out Dobie who couldn't make it back to the non-striker's end.

The key moment, though, came with the wicket of Shiraz Ramzan. Shiraz has feasted on our bowling in recent seasons and it was a huge bonus when James yorked him first ball. Popey, moonlighting from helping out at some minor sporting event in Glasgow, has put on a good deal of pace since he last played for us and this was a fitting reward for a fine spell.



Popey (on the left) at his Scottish day job.

The other incident of note in the innings came when Davie King collapsed in agony setting off for a run. Davie, who's had more than his fair share of injuries in recent seasons, immediately self-diagnosed ruptured tendons, but a later x-ray found a broken bone as well. It was naturally all a bit subdued after that and only a looming storm cloud seemed to induce a bit more urgency in the HX attack as Dan (3.4-4-5-2) nipped in for his almost obligatory cheap wickets and Vik returned to bowl Black who had compiled a dogged 20. The Village People all out for 54 in the 28th over, just in time for the rain to put paid to hopes of a quick turnaround.

After tea the end came fairly quickly with JB (23 no) hitting three boundaries in the eleventh over as PV, gambling on a second bowling point, deployed an Aussie-style umbrella slip field, or as near as you can with only nine men.

Umbrella field - not Arbo on Saturday.

Thanks to Popey for helping out and to PV for another game played in good spirits and some black humour. We hope that availability and Davie recover well and soon.

League Weekend 14 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Murrayfield DAFS, away at Leith Academy.
• 2nds vs Preston Village at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Watsonians 4ths, "home" at the Meadows.

Sunday -

• Martin Flynn Memorial Trophy game vs Carlton at Arbo, 2pm start.

Midweek -

• Wednesday, Activcity Trophy QF vs Morton at the Meadows (reserve day Thursday).

Silverware returns to Arbo!

Holy Cross v Marchmont 23^rd July 2014 Parks Trophy final

On a warm sunny Edinburgh evening, Newfield hosted the 2014 Parks Trophy final between Holy Cross and Marchmont.

Yet another toss won by the Holy Cross skippa, saw McOscar elect to bat first in the hope of setting a good total on a wicket that looked hard and fast, with a lopsided boundary.  In typical Holy Cross fashion, tardy timekeeping meant a slightly different opening duo strode to the wicket than I had planned.




Parks Trophy winners - Standing: Julius Newman, Dougie Russell, Kevin Marsh, John Bacon, Simon Pickering. Kneeling: Simon McOscar, Charlie Ellis, Saideep Kachodi, Rob Bainbridge, Raja Javed, Shannon Bonfield. Photo: Broon.

 

Some tight early bowling from Rees and Sheikh, saw Holy Cross get off to a measured start. McOscar broke the shackles with a big 6 over wide mid-wicket off Rees in the 3^rd over, which was comically signalled 4 by the umpire. However the next 2 overs only conceded 2 runs and the Cross were 0-17 after 5 overs.

The openers continued to work the ball around and set a platform, with Javed clubbing 14 runs off Sheikh’s 4^th over that took us to 0-42 off 8. After frustratingly finding the fielder with regularity, McOscar decided to ‘hit out or get out’ at the start of the 10^th over and provided a high but regulation catch to Rees, off the bowling of the Marchmont skipper Maksimcyzk. McOscar departing for 15 and leaving the Cross 1-49 off 9.1 overs, slightly behind what you’d expect as a par score on this ground.

Vijay was next at the bowling crease for Marchmont, conceded 10 off his first over, with Saideep quickly moving to 7 runs off 7 balls. Maksimcyzk repeating his first ball of the over theatrics, bowling Saideep, which brought Newman out to bat. Given a free licence, Mr Hockey aka Jules, plundered a big 4, but then missed the last ball of Maksimcyzk’s 2^nd over, out for 5 off 4 balls. The Marchmont skipper now with figure of 3-8 off 2 overs!

Javed continued his dominant display, smashing 34 runs in boundaries on his way to an impressive 50 that was greeted with rapturous applause by the magnificent Holy Cross supporters. Trying to chase another boundary in the 16^th over, Raja mistimed a straight drive and was well caught at deep long-off. A superb innings that laid a good platform for Holy Cross, which picked up the run rate to just under 6 an over.

A now settled Ellis and new man at the crease Bacon built a solid 21 run 5^th wicket partnership, before Ellis was called through for what turned out to be a suicidal run, out for 11, the Cross now 5-99.

Bacon who had also scored 11 then tried to pick up the pace, but was bowled by Vijay at the start of the 17^th over, leaving the Cross 6-112 and in need of a couple of good final overs to set a decent total. Dougie 4* and Shan 9* put on 13 runs off the last 13 balls to take us through to a total of 6-120. Marchmont captain Maksimcyzk  returning figures of 3-24 off his 4 overs.

A solid total to defend, but one that would leave plenty of work to do in the second half of the game for Holy Cross.

A close run thing - Navan scrambles home. Photo: Broon.

Marchmont got off to a flyer with the first ball of their innings getting dispatched high over the short square-leg boundary by Vijay for 6 off Bonfield. A tight first over for Newman, saw only 3 runs and Marchmont keeping slightly ahead of the pace at 0-13 off 2.

With both Vijay and Ahmed throwing the willow at the ball and seeing rewards for their shots, they moved steadily to 24 off 4 overs. A solid start with neither batsman looking in any real trouble, saw Ahmed dispatching a Bonfield slower ball in the 5^th over for a huge 6 straight down the ground. Marchmont now slightly ahead of the required run rate at 32 off 5.

Newman continued his fine season, coming in off a shortened run-up that also saw success v MDAFS in the semi-final. Off the second ball of Newman’s 3^rd over, Bainbridge misjudged a pull shot from Ahmed and shelled what could have been a critical chance. Finally some reward, Newman taking the vital first wicket off the last ball of his 3^rd over. A caught and bowled, seeing him with figures of 1-11 of 3 overs. Marchmont were now 1-38 off 6 and keeping their noses just in front of the required run rate.

Time for a change in bowling and McOscar opted to take some pace off and introduced Bacon at the Ferry Rd end, which paid immediate dividends. A sharp stumping taken by a somewhat slimmer and trimmer Spickers, seeing Vijay depart for 16, leaving Marchmont 2-40 off 7 overs.

A double change, with Charlie ‘the glory hunter’ Ellis taking over from Newman and taking a wicket maiden in his second over, keeping the pressure on Marchmont and slowing turning the ledger back in the Corss’ favour, as Bainbridge was offered an opportunity at redemption and took a fine catch.

It must be said that all 11 men were performing well in the field, with some excellent and most unlike Holy Cross fielding. Of note, Spickers was seen diving to horizontal to save what could easily have been 4 byes and Dougie racing around the boundary like a spring chicken, diving to save 2 runs and surprisingly leaping up uninjured!

The large Holy Cross crowd were now starting to believe that the tide was turning in our favour and the screws were tightening on Marchmont, as some tight bowling saw the pressure mounting.

In Ellis’s final over, Newman bobbled but held on to a catch that was hit straight down his throat at long-off to dispatch Rees, who had moved to a run a ball 16. Reducing Marchmont to 4-68 at the start of 14^th over.

Both Bacon and Ellis bowled extremely well and pulled the game slightly back in our favour, with figures of 1-18 and 2-19 respectively off their 4 overs and left Marchmont needing 35 off the last 30 deliveries.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man!

After his fine knock with the bat, Javed was introduced in to the attack to bowl the 15^th over. He quickly settled in to a good line and length and took the critical wicket of Collier in his first over and conceded only 2 runs. The task now starting to look more challenging for Marchmont, 42 required of 30 balls, but more importantly for Holy Cross they now had the opposition 5 down.

After an absolute pie of a loosener from Marsh that was dutifully smashed behind square for 4 by the Marchmont skipper Maksimcyzk, he then proceeded to hit the very next ball straight to Newman at deep mid-off, who easily took his 3^rd catch of the day.

Marchmont now reduced to 6-82 and by the end of the over, needing 35 off the last 24 balls. Still some work to do for Holy Cross, but the vocal crowd now starting to believe a win might be on the cards.

Javed took his second wicket in his 2^nd over, a tidy catch taken by Kachodi and conceded 6 runs. The task looking a tough one, as Marchmont were now 7-91 at the end of the 17^th over.

Javed then singlehandedly accounted for the final 3 wickets of the Marchmont innings in the next 5 deliveries of the 19^th over. As well as skittling Chetty and Sheikh, he also completed a tidy run out, after fielding a straight drive and taking the bails off, leaving Wilson high and dry after backing up too far. Javed finished with the figures of the day and probably the best of the tournament, taking 4-8 off 3.5 overs!

The final wicket with the 5^th ball of the 19^th over sparked jubilant celebrations for the crowd and the men on the field.

Raja celebrates the final wicket. Photo: Broon.

In the end, our total of 119 was just too much for a valiant Marchmont to obtain. Despite Raja deservingly picking up the ‘man of the match’ award; this was really a win for the whole team. A superb victory for Holy Cross, which returns the Parks Trophy to Arboretum Rd after an absence of 2 years.

Raja and Si - Man of the Match and Captain. Photo: Broon.

As Skip of the 1’s, I would sincerely like to thank everyone that played in the early rounds of the Parks Trophy. As I mentioned in my speech, this win was not just to the credit to the 11 men on the field last night. If my memory serves me right we had 15 or 16 guys play in the 3 games that it took to win the Trophy.

Many thanks for PVB and McGill for doing the book yesterday as well and it was also great to see so many supporters down at Newfield cheering us on.

A number of hardy punters partied on long in to the wee hours, with the Parks Trophy taking in some of Edinburgh’s err ‘finest’ drinking establishments.

Next in line is the Presidents Plate semi-final for the 2’s and 3’s and the Activcity quarter-final for the 1’s.

Rainy, Rainy go away!

Holy X 1st XI v Feruchie – Arbo 19^th July

The morning dawned quite nice in Edinburgh, but a rather menacing afternoon weather report saw an early txt from the Feruchie skip looking for any potential of early call off.

11:30am arrived and with the clouds gathering, Arbo was warm and very muggy.  For the first time in a long time, McOscar lost a toss and Holy Cross were put in to bat. Strange decision as Feruchie only had 10 men and a number of their 1^st XI not playing.

We started poorly with Saideep playing over the top of a slow in-swinging yorker on the first ball of the second over, gone for a duck! Holy Cross 4-1 off 1.1 – perhaps not such a silly move to make us bat first….

There were comical scenes with Charlie’s first ball, as he played a dead bat forward defence off Gourlay, who would be classed as a military medium swing bowler. To his shock, the bottom half of his new Bubble bat (provided by Holy X’s new Del-boy Jimmy McOscar) exploded on impact with the ball and one chunk narrowly missed taking out his off stump!

McOscar and Ellis set about rebuilding, against some very good bowling by the Freuchie Pro Akbar and Gourlay. It was slow going, with very few poor deliveries and we managed to tick it over at 2’s an over, until spin was introduced at the Ferry Road end in the 9^th over.

The clouds were getting heavier and some light rain started falling with a second spinner introduced at the clubhouse end, McOscar then nibbled at a ball on a good line and length and gifted a catch to the keeper, who must have been watching MS Dhoni’s tactic of standing 4 foot back for a spinner!

The Cross now 31-2.

Raja was the next man to go, after bludgeoning 10 runs off 2 scoring strokes. Looking for a third boundary, he was struck in front, with the umpire hardly needing to lift his finger as Raja was so plumb he pretty much turned his back and walked off!

OK, so the Feruchie decision to bowl first now looking a good one with HX 42-3!

Jules and Charlie then started taking advantage of the spin bowlers struggling to grip a now wet ball and put on 50 runs in 21 minutes, all while the rain started falling heavier and heavier.

We’d progressed through to 92-3 off 21.2, when the wet stuff just got too heavy to stay out in the middle.

An early tea was taken, more to watch what was happening in the British Open, but time was called on the day’s cricket at 2:30pm with Charlie 34* and Jules on 24*.

A frustrating way to end what was shaping as a very promising innings

Let's hope for better weather next weekend for our critical clash v MDAFS!

Cross Comedy Combos

As the boundary golfers started to get lost in the haar on Saturday evening, it was noted that their party contained a comedy duo Vikram & Rob: Vik & Bob..

Which other comedy duos does the club contain...


TJ & Gerry: Tom & Gerry

John Bacon & Jon Bates: The Two Jonnies

GT & Nozzer: Michele & Webb

Spickers & Coastal Ken: Si & Lawrie

Shifty & David Craig: Mark and Lard

Willie Lytle & David Craig: 
-->Lytle  & Large. 
surely there are many more....

League Weekend 13 and the Week Ahead

The forecast doesn't look too good but here are Saturday's games -

• 1sts vs Freuchie at Arbo, 12 noon start.
• 2nds vs Watsonians 3rds, away at Craiglockhart, 1pm start.
• 3rds vs Glenrothes 3rds "at home" at the Meadows, 1pm start.

Midweek -

• Tuesday friendly vs Woodcutters at Arbo.
• Wednesday Parks Trophy final vs Marchmont at Newfield, Kinnear Road.

Holy Cross progress to Parks Trophy final

Holy X vs MDAFS 16^th July @ Roseburn

Firstly a big thank you to Elmondt, who stepped in to help us out at the 11^th hour, after yet another last minute call off. He played a big part in this win, covering a lot of ground in the field and I’m sure had we only had 10 men, the result would have been different!

After the heavens opened at 4:30pm, it looked unlikely that the game would take place. The MDAFS lads had the super-sopper out, in an attempt to suck as much moisture out of the astro. After a quick inspection it was deemed playable.

Yet another toss won, by stand in skipper S.McOscar who chose to bat first, despite Raja and Saturday’s centurion Bimbo having not arrived yet.

Yet another virgin opening partnership of J.McOscar and Mr Hockey ‘J.Newman’ trudged to the middle, with McOscar facing a maiden first over from the MDAFS skipper Muhammed. A slow start saw some pressure starting to build and Newman looking to accelerate the scoring was well caught on the boundary for 3, the Cross now 7-1.

Raja never settled after his late arrival and hurry to pad up and was soon caught in the deep for just 6. He was quickly followed by J.McOscar, who in an attempt to play a wide ball with a leg glance, had the ball ricochet off his foot and cannon in to the stumps, some would say unluckily, others would say he just should have hit the ball! The Cross now struggling at 20-3 and Skippers choice to bat first was not looking a good one.

Dougie was next to go, out for a 2 ball quacker, which brought to the wicket our other Mr Hockey aka Andy G. Who upon facing his 3^rd ball oddly tried to play one straight down the ground and got clean bowled for 1, you should have tried to smash it to cow corner my son!

The Cross in dire straits now at 34-5 in the 9^th over.

The departure of Andy G bought in the Baconator to join Skipper McOscar who’d witnessed the majority of the carnage beforehand from the other end. The 2 set about resurrecting the innings and trying to get the Cross through to the 20 over mark and build some form of total.

With a very damp outfield, good shots were largely unrewarded unless they went over the boundary or close to it. Plenty of singles kept the scoreboard ticking over with both putting away the odd bad ball, with Bacon hitting one huge 6 into Murrayfield stadium and McOscar almost taking out a cyclist, a lady walking her dog and a couple of football lads wandering past the pitch.

The pair took 12 runs off the 19^th over, moving the score to 106 and leaving McOscar to face the start of the last over.

The first ball of the 20^th was dispatched high towards long-off towards Fergusson, who had a chance to catch the Holy Cross Skipper, but saw the ball dropped and bouncing over the boundary for 4. The next delivery was deposited well over the head of long-on for 6, bringing up the Skippers second consecutive 50 in Parks Trophy innings.

A single was taken off the 3^rd ball, leaving Bacon now on 38 to try and repeat his last scoring stroke an almighty 6. Unfortunately he was clean bowled by Muhammed, a fine innings and a valuable contribution towards a 6^th wicket partnership of 83, with the Cross having progressed to 117-6.

2 balls remaining saw Bonfield come and Bonfield go first ball, out to a sharp caught and bowled.

The weekends centurion Bimbo strode confidently to the crease and just a quickly walked off for another golden duck, kindly completing a hat-trick for the MDAFS Skipper Muhhamed.

Holy Cross all out for 117, leaving S.McOscar 51*.

After a quick change of innings, Bonfield and Newman set us off on the right foot in an attempt to defend 117. Both bowlers coming in of shortened run-up in an attempt to handle the still slippery astro wicket.

Newman bowled a particularly good line and had the dangerous Hayes caught out for 9 a mid-on by J.McOscar, who finally managed to hold a catch for the Cross this season! Not wanting Newman to have all the fun, Bonfield took wickets with the last 2 balls of his 3^rd over, both well delivered slow balls that cut back and took the top of off stump. I should mention he tried a slow ball at the start of the over that was dispatched to the boundary for 4, so it was a brave move to try again.

MDAFS now 20-3 off 5 and Bonfield having to wait for an opportunity snare a potential hat-trick, could he take the second during this match?

With the first ball of the 6^th over, Newman trapped Jaffrey LBW to complete a team hat-trick and at the end of his over had figures of 3 overs, 2 wickets for just 8 runs.

A number of men were brought in to catching positions for Bonfield’s hat-trick delivery. He charged in and sent down an absolute peach of a ball that pitched on off stump, cut away and had the batsman just barely missing the ball. Which no doubt would have provided a regulation edge and catch. Yet again, a ball that was just too good to get a wicket!

At the end of the first 8 overs MDAFS had been reduced to 29-5, with Bonfield taking 3-15 and Newman 2-13.

Javed and Marsh took over with the ball, Marshy unlucky not to pick up a wicket after gloving the batsman and the ball fell just short of a forward diving S.McOscar at keeper.

Bacon was the next man to step up, bowling his usual mix of flight and skidders. MDAFS had started to get a partnership going with Batman and Hawkins batting very well and picking up the run rate. In the 15^th over Hawkins drove a Bacon delivery hard and straight, Bacon fielding then dropping the ball on to the wickets, leaving the non-striker who had been backing up too far short of his ground, Venkatesh run out for a fine 23.

MDAFS were now 76-7 off 15 overs, with Hawkins well set and still a lot of work to do for the Cross to secure a place in the final.

Bacon delivered an absolute gem of an arm ball in his next over, to clean bowl Chengapra for 4. With his next ball to the new man Zarkoob, he managed to hit the poor lad right in the supds, sending him crashing to the floor in a lot of pain. In his next over, he also bowled possibly the quickest ball of the day that bounced sharply off a length, flicked the batsman in the arm and then crashed into the helmet of keeper S.McOscar, some would say lucky he was wearing a helmet, others wouldn’t!

Dougie was also in the action, bowling the last 2 overs from the Murrayfield end and was involved in a run out in the 19^th over, which saw MDAFS reduced to 98-9 and effectively killed off nay chance they had of reaching 118 and victory.

Dougie taking the final wicket with the last ball of the 20^th over, leaving MDAFS all out for 103 and a fine win for Holy Cross!

I’m still waiting on confirmation, but the final of the Parks Trophy looks to be on Wednesday 23^rd of July v 'ye old foe' Marchmont, venue TBC.

Parks Progress

@HXCricket 117-8 SMcOscar 51*, JBacon 38, FMuhammed 4-24 (Inc hat-trick) bt @MDAFS 103 a.o. PHawkins 32, SBonfield 3-15 to advance Parks T
— Simon McOscar (@sifly28) July 16, 2014

1st XI v Glenrothes

A seeming lack of 1st XI match reports amidst my intermittent availability prompts me to concoct something to share some details from yesterdays game. Very grim reading, not enjoyable to write and I'll try to avoid the inclusion of anything the censors might want redacted.

You would think that being asked to captain in the league would be something to look forward to. You would think that giving myself a bowl and getting the best batsman in the league out would be a high point of the season or maybe even my bowling 'career'. You would think that 1st v 5th in the league might be a reasonable contest with some sort of doubt over the outcome. You would think that when up against the best team in the league, we'd pick our best available XI. You would be wrong on every count.

Glenrothes completely annihilated HX1's as we visited Gilvenbank Park for the first time.

Unfortunately, this match can be filed away as another perfect example of the stupidity of the 'professional' rules in Scottish cricket. Any good that comes from a player (or players) playing miles below the level they should be is undone when club games are turned into such monumental mismatches.

Quite frankly I have better things to do with my time than provide cannon fodder to much better players than myself. This is not how I or I'm sure, any of the other 10 who had to suffer this indignity, want to spend Saturday afternoons.

But lets be clear, The eleven men of Glenrothes were completely and utterly deserving of their win. Indeed, an argument could be made HX did well to restrict them to just 350 as former pro's Greaves and Reddy were dismissed for just 3 between them while Beghin succumbed to one of the worst balls he'll ever face in my first and only league over in a decade. Unfortunately he had made 181 by this point.

We used 8 bowlers with only 2 first team bowlers 'available' (missing S McO, Raja, Robin, Bimbo, Vik, Marsh, Newman, Trewartha etc...). Ellis emerged from the carnage with 4-51 from 10. If I tell you our 2nd and 3rd best bowlers/only other wicket takers were Robertson with 2-57 and me with 1-10 (did I mention I got Beghin out?), maybe we can pick our best available bowlers next week?

Glen's - big favourites for the Championship this season - won the toss and elected to bat. With the forecast promising rain from mid-afternoon followed by thunderstorms, this appeared to simply mean a bit of batting practice for the hosts. The visitors missing the usual myriad of players including their first 4 choices as skipper (Si McO, Michelle, JMcO, Raja,), rolled out a throwback Cross line-up including names like Ellis, Pickering, Bonfield, Fraser, Quinn, Russell and also found slots for leg-ends El Presidente (aka Reg Pending) and Lord Admin himself. With PVB in the scorehut/burger van at least we'd take our pasting with good Cross grace.

Some good running got Glens off to a quick start before Davies tweaked something, handing the impetus to Beghin who made his way to 181 with few mishaps. Beghin just survived Bonfields 1st ball and he nearly nicked Dan's 1st ball. That aside, a couple in the air fell tantalisingly close to fielders, but these were scant crumbs of encouragement in a comprehensive dismantling of the makeshift Cross attack. Any chinks of light, barely registered. I.e. Getting Greaves for 2 meant they were 159-2 and Beghin was still going like a train at the other end. The next wicket fell with the total on 308.

After a turbo tea break we were quickly threatening our lowest ever total. I'll commend Dan, batting at 10 who top scored with 10, but for the rest of the 'batting' report, read this:

1-4
2-4
3-8
4-13
5-17
6-19
7-19
8-22
9-39
10-44

I am available next week, but only for our under 8 girls XI.

Rare Ist Team Report: Record Breaking Performance

A number of Crossers have complained about the lack of reports on 1xst team matches.

Well, here's a full report from the match yesterday vs Glenrothes:


We got gubbed

there are many other words that would be appropriate

But at least those who took part can say they played when several club records were broken....

League Weekend 12 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Glenrothes, away.
• 2nds vs Stirling County 3rds at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Leith FAB 2nds, away.

Midweek -

• Wednesday, Parks trophy semi-final vs Murrayfield DAFS, away on the Roseburn artificial.
• Thursday, Presidents Plate quarter-final vs Leith FAB 2nds at Arbo.

Sadly, given this glut of cup cricket, we have had to cancel Tuesday's friendly vs Tranent.

Going South - 2s Lose Again

We were without a recognised wicketkeeper, the team rock star or any idea where the fifth set of nine overs might come from, but we had Vik (or Sachin as the South lads call him - apparently it's his real name, not a comment on his batting) back and we'd beaten the Club Formerly Known as Mitre fairly comfortably earlier in the season, so there were still grounds for optimism.

Misplaced as, while HX again won the triple-header 2-1, we were the 1 this time. South were a far stronger side than earlier in the season and racked up 246 for 5, led by Welsh (75 no) in an innings full of well-timed legside shots, but with almost all the batsmen making a contribution. Of course as ever there were things to enjoy and admire in our performance in the field. Smudger as our second stand-in keeper took an excellent stumping to get rid of the usually obdurate Rupani; Vik (9-2-31-1), as usual at this level, bowled too well to get the wickets he deserved, if you see what I mean; and Andy Donaldson in his first bowl for the club and Moneeb Shazhad (the lesser known youngest brother) in his first game both performed splendidly. But we conceded five runs to a hat-hit for the second time this year and dropped several catches for what seems like the umpteenth (I originally typed "numpteenth" there - appropriate). Not good.

Which leads me nicely on to our batting. Ziggy (32) looked in good touch even after he pulled a muscle and required the "running" assistance of JB who had earlier made 20-odd. Elmondt and Andy wagged the tail a bit with some healthy biffing. But, finishing on 126 all out, we only just managed to pass half our opponents' score and again missed out on batting points that may prove important at the end of the season.

Congratulations to South on a comprehensive victory and especially to Farhan Sheikh (8.2-2-20-6) for his career-best bowling figures, the second year running that a South bowler has taken a sixfer at Arbo. Thanks to them too for a game played in good spirits and good humour.

As for us - must do better, starting on Saturday.

Henton Hatrick & Golden Grahams Lift Thirds

Andy G reports on the 3rd XI match vs Edinburgh South -at the Inch (Artificial). Since 
the 1sts were playing on the adjacent square, we can attest that some of this stuff actually happened...
.....................................................................................
 So ... We won again ... Great!

On Friday at 5pm I have 8 players ...
Then by Saturday we have 11 - unbelievable Jeff!

We kicked off ... late, we were missing our wickey and our opening bowlers. One because he forgot his trainers and the other because the captain forgot to pick him up! We began with Keith (every reliable) and he's always gonna Geddes a wicket ! with Dave 'the tack' Sharpe at the other end!

It was like being back in 2005!

Anyway they bowled and there were a few drops - to be expected - and there were a few jaffas too! Keith and Dave bowled really well limiting them to 1.5 an over off their first 16 and also taking 3 wickets!

Great stuff!!

But then I decided to unleash my secret weapon Mr (I don't really like cricket but feel I should turn up cause that's what all the other hockey players do) Henton. His first over was rubbish ... Maiden!

Then he mucked about for another 3 taking a wicket in the process.

Then the magic happened:
First ball wicket.

Second ball dot.

Third ball dottiho.

Fourth ball bowled - excellent delivery -hit the top of off.

A child comes in and Matt halves his run up. Bowls him with a daisy cutter - no celebrations (his 4th wicket and brings the hat trick ball)

Last ball of the over and everyone in ...
Matt bowls slightly short but on the stumps. The batsman plays but it bounces off his glove , it's in the air, it's Usama, it's crazy the crowd (a man in jeans) goes wild. A five-for and a hat trick (double jug)!

Anyway, he bowled utter crap after that!

Danny Main got a good run out and I'm sorry Broonster you should have had two more overs!

So Alex and I are talking on Saturday ... What do we do with 3 batsmen and 8 no.10s? Yeah that's right.. we ship one batsman to the 2s! So I asked at tea ''who would like to open with ken?'' an eery silence (this was in front of the opposition as well). So I spoke to my old man (his response: no, give someone else a shot I've already dropped two catches) graham.

Anyway with my sales skills, learned from bimbo, I got him to open.

Great decision skip ... Thanks skip.
So my old man and Ken were 10 off 6! Then they unleashed the beast!

An opening partnership of roughly 40 off 15, pretty fast for Ken!
So Ken obviously thinks the run rate isn't quick enough so try's to smash one and he's gone! So I step up (having missed 70% of Henton's throw downs)!

I enjoyed batting with my dad, I think mostly cause he still thinks he is As quick as he was at 30! It was good fun and I'm disappointed he got out on 35-he should have definitely made 50!

That brought Matt (5for) Henton to the crease. We quickly lost him Sharpey and Usama. Danny Main produced a little flutter and we had a partnership of 30. Eberst brought it home with 4 overs to spare.

Good day out and Edinburgh South had some really good chat in the field!

To Saturday ... Away to Leith!

Hopefully another 20pts!

Holy Cross Post-Season Festival - Saturday 13th September 2014

Gents,

You are all again invited to the end of season sports and family day out in the country.

This year's events will include:

Cricket - soft ball double-wicket competition
Table Tennis
Target Golf
Croquet
Throwing the Wellie / Cheese rolling
Fishing (small river, small fish, lots of trees but very pretty)
Frisbee
Tennis / Badminton
Boules
Skittles
Giant Rope Swing (not suitable for scaredypants)
Tight Rope
Trampoline
etc.

Other activities, toys and games also available for children and Vogrie adventure playground is nearby.
Exquisite countryside and woodlands all around for walks and inspiration (!).

Feel free to turn up from 12.30pm and start having fun.  The cricket competition will start at 2.00(ish).  There will be a barbecue arranged for late afternoon.

This event is free to all Crossers.  Please bring your wives and girlfriends (AKA designated drivers) and kids if you have any.  We will lay on some food and soft drinks but please bring food for the barbie and your own booze - plenty of booze.  Transport to and fro is up to you.  Anyone who volunteers to come early to help organise or to man the barbie will be lavishly rewarded.  The festivities will continue as long as anyone wishes to keep partying and if anyone fancies pitching a tent and staying overnight they are welcome to do so.  

PS Please don't tweet or Facebook this - it's for Crossers only.  I will e-mail out directions closer to the date.  It's 30 mins drive from the Old Town.

Please come - the more the merrier! 

Shifty

League Weekend 11 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Edinburgh South 1sts, away.
• 2nds vs Edinburgh South 2nds at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Edinburgh South 3rds, away.

Midweek -

• Tuesday, friendly vs Murrayfield-DAFS at Arbo.
• Thursday, Parks Trophy QF vs Livingston at Arbo.

Bomber! Dunfermline Carnage as Cross Crushed by Honey Monster.

The 2nds travelled to Dunfermline with just ten men, but it looked a decent ten and the absence of several familiar faces from the Carnegie side, including Barney, Harris and Nellie, gave us some hope that we could do the double over the College.

While Ross T (or Cross Ross) was out early on to a lifter from G Ross, Bainbro was spanking it all over the place (well, all over the leg side to be more accurate) and at 49-1 at a good pace we were looking well placed. But Carnegie Ross (8-2-23-4) was bowling well, mixing rib music and yorkers, and it was a full ball that accounted for Bainbro for 29. When JB was bowled in the next over trying to cut a Khan delivery that turned and kept low, 49-1 had become 51-3 and early confidence was ebbing. Milly, BAF and Nevin all helped rebuild and push the score along, but it was a fine 40 from President Shifty, in his best block-block-block-thump mode, that was chiefly responsible for our eventual total of 142. On a sporting wicket that had shown some exaggerated bounce and turn that seemed pretty competitive.



Bomber - a Lancaster flies over Pitreavie. We'll order up a drone attack next time. Photo: BAF.

After easily the best tea I've ever had in Fife (highlights - chocolate cake and strawberries), Bainbro and Gerry opened the bowling. Early signs were again encouraging as Rob bowled some jaffas including one that squared Martin Honeyford up but didn't quite stick at slip. That was the first of four tough chances we missed, but any suggestion that Martin's excellent, match-winning innings of 90 not out was lucky would be badly misplaced as he pulled, drove and cut powerfully and defended sensibly when required. JB (5-2-21-2) briefly threatened to upset the victory parade, but bowled a horrible fifth over and was rightly yanked from the attack. Perhaps showers had deadened the pitch a bit, perhaps towards the end a wet ball was a little difficult to handle, but basically we didn't bowl well enough against a skilful and experienced batsman who is in fine form this year (340 runs at an average of 68). An 8 wicket defeat.

Thanks to Carnegie for a game played in good spirits, for an excellent tea (I know I've already mentioned it but it's important), for organising the various fly-pasts, and, especially, for the loan of young James Honeyford as our 11th man. He'll be a very good cricketer one day. I already have visions of the second generation of Honeyfords tormenting Crossers for years to come ......