Weekend Woe

Despite a fantastic ton from Julius, the 1sts lost out in a high-scoring game at Arbo...as to the 2's and 3's...poor availability left both teams short of players...with rather inevitable results..

More details to follow..

33 for next week please...

Handbags and Beer Rags

[Andy G reports on some 20 over midweek madness- annotations from cje]

Coco's select XI welcomed Maccabi for the first midweek friendly of the season. I'm not going to remember all the details just a brief summary [really?] to keep the fans entertained. Coco - with 12 players - won the toss we batted first. Sandy was forced kindly went to play for Maccabi as they were short.

Mike Nevin and Vikram Gaware opened with the tactic of all out attack! We screamed [?] to 16 off 2 when Vikram fell to the dazzling [? it was raining] spin of Adeel (from Murrayfield - Dafs) out came Andy Graham and blocked the last ball of the over.

Gus McLean was bowling from the other end and Coco was umpiring. Let the jousting begin...

Gus bowled a quicker delivery and it bounced high off  a stone the pitch possibly hitting Mike Nevin's bat and beating the  bemused wicketkeeper. We ran a run/bye and Coco didn't flinch. Uproar from Gus!! He wanted the bye - these friendlies count to official ICC Scottish cricket bowling averages you know! The handbags were out ... Coco with a 1980's pink number with metal studs and Gus with a blue leather clutch bag. Coco referred to a wide that Gus had given previously (probably in 1978 [actually June 4th 2007]) where the batsman nicked the ball to second slip! The next ball was bowled and the over was over, and the handbags were tucked away ready for round 2.

Back to the cricket - Mike and Andy put on a good few runs until Mike was bowled by a good delivery by Mr Malik (Suli was back at Arbo!)
No 4 was Brian Fraser he came in, sliced spanked Suli for a four ... I think ... but then tried to play across the line and was given out LBW by Coco - a ludicrous decision   fair I think ... No 5 [no 5-was KF doing the batting order....grrr] Smudger comes trotting in he smashed Suli for another 4 - conceding circa 10 runs from his last over - was quite good fun and but beware this over just made him [who-Suli or Smudger?] angry!

Alex looked good for the few balls that he faced, hitting some sweet shots but finding the fielders,  he was bowled playing down the wrong line by a good ball that cut in off the sodden skiddy pitch.

Ross Parker stepped in around the 16 over mark and partnered Andy to his 50 - he was on 40 when Smudger was out - AG batted a lot more conservatively for his final 10-and all those present some observers questioned his ambition to go for another 50 #tightfisted !

Jug No.1 done

Andy retired and debutant Kevin Marsh came in, he smashed a couple of runs and with the final ball of the innings hit a 6 six towards the rugby posts...

A 6 on debut - Jug No.2 ??

Ross and Kevin saw us through to the 20 overs and we ended on 125 for 4. So we went out with a ok strong total and a bowling line up to die for [??].

Opening with debutant Kevin and the veteran Smudger we had change bowlers of Coco and Ross Parker and couple of surprises... Kevin and Smudger got off to a good start with some excellent bowling ... Unfortunately the batting was strong.

Adeel's dad smashed balls through point, cow corner, square leg and the covers and his partner ... Well he wasn't bad either...it was Mr Suliman Malik ... Back to thrash those who taught him the game. The majority of his shots in true Suli fashion were straight of the bowler's head and quite a few shots to cow [some things don't change].

Great innings from the elder brother - and he gloated about finishing on 52 - 2 runs more than me!

After 10 overs Maccabi had 80 runs - they were doing well so Adeel's dad stupidly sportingly tried to reverse sweep Coco off middle stump - the first of his 3 wicket haul!

No3. Another crosser??? Michael Baker [aka MFTRC] steps in - after being padded up for the last 20 overs he took an age to readjust his helmet and gloves! He felt hard done by about not getting a bat so he deffered to the opposition at halftime and convinced them to put him in at 3... This is why they were hitting all of those runs, we only had 10 in the field!

He faced the pace and Coco got him on the fourth attempt - after Vikram dropped him at slip!

Wait! was this an HX intra-club friendly ... Sandy Robertson came in to bat and quickly sighed as he saw coco had an over left - he lasted a few balls and hit a couple of runs but then fell to Coco's pace. With 3 wickets coco was a bit happier ... But ding ding the bell went round 2..

Coco had a tidy over going for about 3 or 4 and he had bowled 6 balls so the square leg umpire started to approach, the batsman plodded around the wicket and I started having a between over chat with the batsman.

But no there was a mystery wide and and Gus wanted another ball - and the handbags were out again.

There were flashes of pink and blue as the two old timers pinged stories of dubious wides and no balls from the 70s and 80s I didn't catch any specific examples but I'm sure there was some chat of Portobello Baths!

Now they only had about 15-20 over the final 5 or so overs. Unfortunately Vikram 'old man' Gaware is injured and wanted to save himself for Saturday [what for-cricket?? or hauling white goods from John Lewis] so we had a trio of exciting, flighty [?] and and at some points [?] the best balls of the game!

BAF was the first to turn his arm over and his first ball was awesome!
He tossed it so high that when it returned to the [Earth's] surface it had snow on it, it turned and rolled under beat the bat. Just fantastic, it was just a shame he was only able to replicate it once more in his over;  when he got Adeel out -caught and bowled.

Next up: Alex Candilish his first 2 balls were wides but then he found his rhythm ... Just excellent, going both ways off the pitch [the same delivery] and he put it just in the right spot for the batsman to put it straight in front of Smudger and he fell jumped forward to catch it for Alex's first wicket (EVER!- not just for the Cross) .

Jug No. 3 and possibly 4 - first wicket for the Cross and first wicket ever.

2 balls later he put another in the same spot but this time the ball was hit sweeter and unfortunately Smudger at short extra cover  did an EC   wasn't able to hold it.

The last over went to [Sunday's hero] Ted:  he bowled two yards outside off, toying with the batsman to hit the final runs, after missing two the batsman finally caught one  [howzat!?] and the game was over.

126-5.. we were beaten by a good batting side.

Weekend Ahead

 
Reminder of this weekend's matches at Arbo:

• Saturday: 1sts vs Edinburgh, 40 overs a side, 1pm start.
• Sunday: 2nds/3rds vs Dunfermline Wanderers, 35 overs a side, 1pm start.

Let us hope it stays dry ...

Final over win for Keith's Codgers

Keith's Codgers
 199/ 3 (35 overs)

O. Mazher 50* (retired)
C. Ellis 52* (retired)
K. Fraser 38*
E. C. Smith 33

Raja: 8/1/33/1
G. Trewartha: 8/0/31/0
D. Russell: 6/0/58/0
J. Bates: 8/1/53/1
N. Webb: 5/0/19/0

Dougie's Dandies
191/ 8 (35 overs)
R. Javed 71
D. Russell 32
G. Trewartha 33

C. McGill 8/1/29/0
C. O. Smith: 8/0/44/2
C. Ellis: 8/0/47/5
E. Smith: 3/0/22/1
S. McCosker 8/0/35/0

Despite a wicket that looked decent but was a bit of a pudding and some
periods of cold weather, we managed a enjoyable inter-club match (I'll leave aside the abject standard of the tea bags bags we had to use: hopefully this will soon be rectified)  .
Everyone (bar Norrie) managed some valuable time in the middle and the bowlers got some overs under their belts. Good testing spells from Raja, GT & Simon, while Smudger and Coco did well to keep things tight against strong batting. Undoubtedly there was some friendly bowling on offer but some of the batting was impressive-Dougie getting some rough treatment from Owais and EC.
Raja got close to achieving the 25 needed of the last over...though cje may come under suspicion for his decision to bowl 'leg spin'.

Moment of the match:
 EC's dismissal of GT with a surprise (genuinely) good ball. No footage exists but EC insists that the dismissal at 3.17 in this video is a virtual replica.

Special mention: 2 stumpings for Smudger! Plus a 40 mins spell on the roller in heavy rain!

KF and Shanton reign in the sun

On the best day of the year so far the 1sts travelled to Roseburn to meet our old friends the Mufs. With the return fixture called off in April and the Mufs going well on their return to the top flight there was keen interest in the fixture, hence our near full strength squad. Only the skipper was missing so KF returned from injury and Ziggy came in to strengthen the batting on a usually bowler friendly Roseburn deck.

Spickers had the honour of again leading the team seeking to continue a good run of wins. The Cross spy had reported a green top awaiting us so it was of little consequence when the Mufs skip put us in to bat. Owais and KF opened up with KF playing a foil to Owais' swashbuckling start. One particularly large 6 had the unfortunate consequence of scattering a bevvy of bikini clad sunbathing wenches camped out at the long leg boundary. After a good start it was a shame when Owais fell in the 30's but KF picked up where he left of. Supported by CJE (25) and CA, KF went on to make a classy 50 odd. As we all know KF is a modest fellow, too modest to write a match report that he top scored in, but he truly is a great of the game, a legend no less.

After KF and CA fell, Shanners and Ziggy made a few handy runs with Dougster adding quite a few at the end. Mufs bowled well in the midsummer heat and runs aren't easy to come by at Roseburn so it was pleasing to see the Cross batsman put the odd bad ball away and run well for 2's. Captain Spickers reckoned 170 would be dependable and 200 plenty, so to wind up on 196 for 8 was a good effort.

After tea and learning of the 3's capitulation Spickers reminded us how poor the fielding had been midweek and we needed to get amongst the Muffs right from start. A great start from Robin had Muffs 2 down with Shanners keeping it tight from the other end and quite quickly the run rate began to creep up. Muffs did threaten from time to time with Mohamed striking some good straight drives and the Muffs opener hanging around, however a combination of tight bowling and regular wickets meant things were ticking along quite nicely. Dougs and Shanners picked up the odd wicket which brought Agerkar to the crease needing to up the run rate. The Muffs stalwart brought them back into the game helped by some adventurous stroke play and a particularly rank over from your author. However excellent spells from Pat and Dougster kept the squeeze on and when Agerkar fell in the 40's nothing could save Mufs from Shanton's superb last spell, which very nearly included a hat trick. Shanton finished with 4, 3 for Robin, and 1 a piece for me, Dougs and Pat and the Mufs were out for 141.

Special mention must also go to Spickers for taking an excellent diving catch in front of 3rd slip and to Pat for an equally spectacular diving effort at mid off, erasing all memories of.........

All in all a very good performance where everyone contributed to a solid win. Thanks to Mufs for the hospitality.

The HX committee may like to note the upgrade in Mufs facilities including a bowling machine, collapseable nets and sightscreen.

The Good Old Days??

Today I picked up a copy of The Miller Guide to Scottish Cricket 1994 (at the excellent Christian Aid book sale at St Andrew's and St George's West, George Street-plenty good cricket stuff there btw).

In a review of the 1993 season that makes KF's postings sound Pollyannaish in comparison, James Bradley (club secretary at the time) grumbled as follows:

'Another year of relative mediocrity punctured by rare memorable moments. The 1st team ended the year in its customary 7th position (East League-Div 2), while the 2nds were demoted to Grade C, while the 3rds held their own (Grade C). The slide continues, but at least we've got 2nd and 3rd team derbies to look forward to next year: blood on the pitch may result. Anyway it won't get any better until club members decide that they want to play cricket regularly (a strange thought for a cricket club)' (emphasis added).

Note: according to this same Guide, a certain C. McGill apparently bowled 386.4 overs (!! 100 of them maidens!) in the 1993 season, taking 72 wickets at an ave of 14.8. ...surely 'all games'???

Can Catch, Can't Bat ...

Saturday results digest:

1sts -at Arboretum
Fauldhouse 120ao
Worsnop 4-42

Holy Cross 111ao
Cydzik 39
Sandhu 3-16

We did well to recover from 33-7 but if only we'd made a half decent start...

2nds-Roseburn
lost to Mufs 3rds by 10 wickets

Admin adds - Charlie's too kind - we couldn't bat (unlike last week) or catch (just like last week). A depleted 2nds scored far too few as the recognised batsmen were dismissed cheaply and tamely by a decent, but not terribly threatening, Murrayfield-DAFS attack. Debutant Irfan Butt hit a promising 29 and the lower middle order added some useful runs, most notably with Roshan's huge six, but 120 was unlikely to be enough unless we struck early. For the second week running Roshan and Usama opened the bowling very well but without any luck and as Darren Kidd started to get his eye in the run rate accelerated.

The last 30 or so runs came very quickly as the bowlers struggled to grip a sodden ball, but by then the die was cast as catches dropped while the ball was still dry (sorry, Smudge) had cost us dear. Thanks to MUFS for a game played in the usual good spirits and without any of the "overenthusiastic" appealing which is now so widespread.

3rds-Campbell Pk
beat Largo 4's by 10 wickets

further details to follow....

KF on ...... the Holy Cross Selection Committee

In his latest controversial* missive, KF turns his attention to the activities of the Selection Committee (current members: EC, SP(?), CS (?), MR (?), KL, CM plus match secretary).

Disclaimer: its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of Holy Cross ACC.

A reminder to all players:

1. The Selection Committee meets every Monday. To ensure total inaccuracy, this is conducted in a pub, preferably whilst taking part in the Pub Quiz. The process, documented in detail in the seminal 2009 document, Selection Problems No More, by the 1st XI skipper, involves pinning names of players (at least 51% must have unconfirmed availability) to a roulette wheel, spinning it and randomly allocating roles for the week within the club.

2. Players must make their unavailability unclear to someone who isn't Interim Match Secretary as soon after the fixture they are unavailable for has been concluded as possible. Accurate and timely information is frowned upon and may be dealt with sternly.

3. As soon as you become available, ensure you cast aspersions on every decision made by the carefree and thoughtless slackers who select the teams. These people insist on making a simple process incredibly complicated. to drive home the weight of your opinion, ensure that you cannot play the following weekend. Or the weekend after that.

4. Fit players are strictly forbidden. Any players reporting for a match in a fit state will immediately be put through a leisurely warm-up to rectify matters. For further reading see The Ecstasy & The Agony, the art of the celebration injury by Dr I Astley or Prof M Robertson's pamphlet, Marking out my run-up and other gunshot wounds, now featuring the bonus chapter The Pavement Sniper.

5. Any player unhappy with the team they are playing for is advised to wait a day until the teams are rejigged. To ensure total fairness this reselection is routinely performed on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Also on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If a generally satisfactory outcome is reached by midday on Saturday, the allocated 3rd team skipper for the week (usually the 2nd team skipper) must take a bonus player from the 1sts or 2nds, especially if the 3rds only have 11 players.

6. When playing for the 1st XI, it is unsporting to beat any team in or near relegation difficulty. All victories must be obtained versus title-chasing sides only (but not Fauldhouse). In the 2nd XI, all victories are deemed unsporting and fielding with anything approaching competence is discouraged, especially by the bowlers who detest catches being taken off their bowling. In the 3rd XI, whilst victories are occasionally allowed, they should be restricted to those that are absolutely necessary to avoid relegation out of the league system altogether. It is also forbidden for the 3rd team to utilise a cricket pitch for games. Picturesque fields are preferred.

* you will recall that his previous post 'No Future' (still obtainable, whilst stocks last, from cje) was ruthlessly suppressed deemed a bit too controversial.

More McGill Midweek Misery...

The Midweek Crossers took on Bellevue Chapel at the Field of Dreams on another fine Scottish summer's evening.

The visitors featured the well kent (or skelpt!) faces of Andy 'The Mighty' Quinn and Norrie Webb in a side which put the Crossers to shame by not only turning up with a full compliment, but showing what T20 Friendly Cricket is all about by offering fielders as the Chapel chased a Cross total of 125. The Smith double act putting on almost half of the total.

At the interval, the kind Ladies of Bellevue offered the sides a selection of home made brownies and a box of biscuits, with cries of 'Can we play you every week' coming out of the home portacabin!

In reply, Quinn and Webb secured their places for the weekend by giving their wickets cheaply (Webb out for a duck) however some slack fielding and sympathetic bowling saw the Chapel secure a win with a boundary from the penultimate delivery.

More midweek madness next week with a friendly against Maccabi at Arbo on Thursday night - if you'd like to play please add a comment here, contact Captain McGill if you can (we understand his phone's on the blink at the moment) or e-mail secretary@holycrosscricket.co.uk