2nd XI - The Captaincy Question

Considering it

New Odds Added (at the end)

Other clubs might call it disarray, for us it's just another close season.

With the 1st XI skipper renouncing his role at the end of the season (his temperature was up (no really), we're waiting til it comes down a bit before asking him again), speculation is rife that there will also be a vacancy at the top of the 2's.

As shall soon be customary, I've therefore decided to offer a guide for all interested parties on the movers and shakers no doubt gearing up to throw their Baggy Green into the ring.

The Loins of Peffermill

El Presidente (above) - 1-2
It's his club and he runs it with a fist of bone china. So if he wants to be captain, no doubt he will be. While he once shot at reporters in his Napoli days, nowadays his various enemies keep taking him out for weeks on end with sniper shots from range. But availability is no barrier to assuming office, indeed, not showing up increases your chances of election twofold. And with a Maradona Jr looking for a nice inheritance in the not too distant future, promising to get the 2's back into Div 4 might rally supporters behind him.


Smujinder Smudgerjee - Evens
With Smith's recently deserting the club in droves it might be possible to railroad the loins of Peffermill into another season at the helm of our middle team. In fact if he was to be skipper, he might end up captaining less games than he ends up doing when he's not skipper. Prudent Crossers may wish to hold him in reserve for whenever whoever is appointed as captain goes awol after a couple of pre-season nets.

Brian gives it the Blue Steel

Beef Raiser - Evens
No, he's not a cattle botherer, but some mad rumours seem to be suggesting that 2012's Most Improved Player could form a so-called 'dream ticket' with the veteran Smujinder Smudgerjee. That this statement alone might induce bruising on the erstwhile 2's opener might throw his fledgling candidacy into doubt, but if Titt Robme is in with a serious chance of entering the White House, why not an Evans/Houlier type arrangement at Arbo.

The Zigster on a weeknight

Cydzk 'Zggy' Nzlm - 3-1
The man who was from Poland before it became fashionable is attracted to the 2's captaincy like a fly is to shhhhhhhhhhhhould he be able to stay away from the internet where heartfelt plea-rants became his trademark, there wouldn't be too many people would complain (one would for sure, but that fight will be on the undercard of the match-up I mention later).

Biswas mk II

Vikrambrose Gawarawalapindi Express - 5-1
This is not a popularity contest or Vik would be a shoo-in along with A Graham for all offices requiring a Hawaiian shirt. Was recently declared fit again after an April-August injury kept him on the sidelines massaging a massive lump on his groin. Could set Division 5, 4, 3 & 2 alight if given the chance.

Bimbo recently

Papa Bimboridge - 8-1
With his Arbo career in freefall, a fact he cannot deny, the 2's are a realistic prospect for the 2011 arm wrestling champion. A wee stint as captain might soften the blow and even inspire the next generation of youngsters (under 35's) as he recruits them to play from his work. Headlines such as 'Bimbo's Babes' or 'Rob's Hearthrobs' might not be far away as the 2's get turned into the best looking side in Edinburgh.

How he might have looked

Rozzer Webb (of criminality) - 12-1
It began so well too. Time will tell if it has ended in ignominy, or if this is just a sort of Kevin Pietersen moment in his Cross career. Once the taker of flying catches, Rozzer had channelled his efforts towards becoming an elite sportsman who could represent his country on the pool table, instead some neds multiplied by his gargantuan steroid intake brought it all crashing down. Will his tenure be remembered as a 'What if', or can he turn back the clock, re-stand for office and redeem his reputation?

Currently on the US side of things

Kwinny - 16-1
Unusually for a Crosser, Kwinny has tailored his foreign excursions to match the close season as much as possible. This is so unusual we can only view it with rampant suspicion. What are we finally doing right that makes people want to stay? Does it mean that despite his canny insistence that he has no captainly ambitions, that indeed is exactly what he has his eye on. I'm tempted to take him at face value, but you really have to watch these humans, they're a right untrustworthy breed.


Lord Admin - 20-1

Lord Admin dresses down

Taking a break from filming the latest Thick of It, Lord Admin took the time to completely deny he'd ever want to take control of such a shower of "you types". His 100% attendance record at AGM's would make it quite difficult to sneakily elect him. Of course, since buying out the East League, Admin may have other fish to fry and see the 2's job as an inconvenience on his way to world domination.


McDougie McRussell - 25-1

Temper

After the earlier revelations that the 1's was too big a job for him (again), who can rule out a promotion to 2nd XI skip for the thinking man's radge? Not only can he bat and bowl, turns out he can keep a bit too (only a bit). Once he adds fielding and captaincy skills to his game, he might be one for the future. Once they start to grow spare human knee ligaments in laboratories, a national call-up might even be possible.

Hey gorgeous, they call me Cocko

Cocko McGill - 50-1
Known to the authorities as Carlos the Jackal, Cocko has been keeping a lower profile of late, consciously scoring less runs and keeping wicket taking to a minimum. This might be down to US drone policy and his international fugitive status or more likely just this blimmin rain. With only two stated goals for 2013, the first being getting back into the 2's, the second being taking his offspring tally into 3 figures, it's up to you to decide which is more realistic.

Coastal Erosion

Ken Troversial - 66-1
Coastal Ken is what's known in certain perverted circles as a dotball fetishist. It stems from a medical condition best described as an immunity to boredom. Casual observers might just glance at his score's of 0, 0, 1, 3, 0, 11, 0 and think 'not a bad Cross bat at all', but keener observers would look at how many balls he took to NOT get off the mark and realise there is incredible skill not just in not scoring a run on purpose, but shutting down all avenues of potential mis-scoring opportunities such as inside edges, leg byes incorrectly awarded to the batsman or overthrows. His feats and his dedication to their continuance are truly mind-boggling. About time he was dropped back down to the 2's.


McScotty McRussell - 75-1

The easier going one of the two brothers

News that McDougie is in with a shout will surely reach the ears of serial club-founder, former 2's skipper (who isn't?) and a gentleman ably designed for 2's captaincy. Completely welcome and totally barred from every club in the land, the management committee would have to OK his candidacy. Working on some sort of f-ed up quantum level he can both build the club up to levels of incredible success and destroy it. As this often happens simultaneously, most folk think things are ticking along normally. Just like the quantum physics illusion of reality.

Where to begin?

Maggie Broonster - 100-1
Sister of tea lady Mandy Broon and official club photo-chronicler, odds of 100-1 might be bargain of the century. The man who out rent boys the rent boys in the fashion stakes seems to possess absolutely zero shame (see photo). Vying with Wusrnip as the Crosser most likely to be on the box, Broonster could be a man going places. Where, I really don't know, but I think he has a bus pass and I suspect he's familiar with the 35. Successful election may rely on whether he can deliver the new bar/changing room/swimming pool complex he's secretly drawn up.


Smokin Hottie - 250-1

Smokeless ciggies, what next, non alcoholic lager???

Oh yeah, she's back. In the continuing absence of gratuitous sexism on this blog, I am led to believe that Ms S Hottie might be showing an interest in the 2's vacancy. Still banging the populist drum (not a euphemism) this er, smokin hottie believes in smoking as you play, the sort of hot topic that might end with the PVB v Coco Mixed Martial Arts match up we've all been waiting on for too long.

Killer by name, killer by nature

Further odds available on request.

NEW ODDS ADDED

Andy 'The' Killer - 75-1
At inter-school sports, when the oppo rugger team turned up you'd often be quaking in your boots at how good they looked or mostly how much bigger they were with no actual skill evidence. The Killer has both these bases and more covered. Not only is he the tallest man on the planet, he looks like he'd be a good player before you've even seen him tie his laces. On top of that, he is a dead ringer for a former English international fast bowler. No, not Devon Malcolm...

President's Plate Team Announced

The team as it stands for Thursday (Vs Casuals in the President's Plate) is:

Norrie Webb (c)

Andy Quinn (vc)

Brian Fraser (WK)

Abdul Ghafoor

Irfan Butt

Praveen Kumar

Nawaz Shazad

Smudger Smith

Coco McGill

Fin Clarkson tbc

Kevin Marsh tbc

Reserves Matt, Ross ,Sandy and Mahmood

Meeting at 5.40 at the Meadows for a 6 pm start. 

Remember Sunday !: -latecomers cannot be guaranteed a spot...

AGM news: Back to the future for 1sts as Russell/ Fraser takeover

Headlines:

*New 1st XI Captain for 2012 - Dougie Russell with Keith Fraser as vice.
*Norrie Webb retains his 2nd XI Captaincy status with Andy Quinn elected as vice.
*It's the status quo for the 3rd XI dream team with Ken Lawrie and Andy Graham as Captain & Vice respectively.
*But, as ever, those with real power and influence stay put.

Top Job In Scottish Cricket Still Up For Grabs

EVEN MORE NEW ODDS ADDED - 01/02/12
NEW ODDS ADDED 31/01/12

It's been the hot topic in Tanning Salon's and Nail Bar's since last August when Western Union bound E.C. Smith (???) announced he was abdicating from the exalted post of Holy Cross 1st XI Capitan.

With the new season now only 82 days away and no sign of an AGM to settle matters, the bookies have been in meltdown trying to sort out odds as potential candidates jostle for position.

God smote, The Bish merely sledges

Bishop Lynch - 5/4
With one full season under his belt and any notions of bettering us well & truly kyboshed, the best & worst sledger in the club holds the fatal 'early front-runner' tag. The Bishop has promised to maintain the standards set in recent years and not be available as often as possible to allow sniping and side-plotting against him to prosper out of earshot.

Maddoug Russell - 7/4

Slapper

As Scottish as The Krankies this candidate also shares many other characteristics with Scotland's first couple. He has maintained an open relationship with HX over the years, often moving out of the family home at Arboretum to sample the delights on offer elsewhere before returning to his true love.

How can you not love this man???

Sir Thomas Sheridan - 5/1
A surprise inclusion for some, Scotland's most famous swinger (usually away swinging) has, this very day been uncaged and is available for selection. Known to favour the Cross, having no cricketing ability, but, being born to lead, Sir Tam is an almost perfect fit for the current vacancy.

PVB batting with Spickers

P.V.B. - 5/1
While all Crossers bar one mature with age, this candidate is improving faster than most. Sharp analysis, erudite comments, flawless manners and an understanding of how our great game should be played, what an ambassador we'd have if PVB (as he's known) could garner enough support to launch a campaign.

Geeza job?

Straussy Strauss - 8/1
Don't tell anyone but Straussy will soon be looking for a job. Obvious deficiencies on the field are made up off the field as a consummate engager with the gentlefolk of the press. While he might be 6th or 7th choice to open the batting for us, at least there'd be less inaccurate guff in the local rag.

Ziggy getting ready for work

Anzlm Cydzk - 25/1
There is surely one more season of captaincy left in the popular (once he became) former 2's skip. A lack of vowels have always hindered Zggy with Crossers on the far right and it's unclear if he could now raise enough votes from the left with the appearance of Sir Tommy in the race.

Two good for the 1's

Nozzer Webb - 33/1
Clearly a star on the rise, probably the 3rd most popular new player at the Cross in a decade behind Shambles and Gawarawalapindi Express. However there is still unfinished business for Noz in the 2's where he'll struggle to raise support for a move to the 1's.

<comment deleted by lawyers>

Andy 'Hahaha' Coulson - 50/1
Driven out of his job at Downing Street (by a chauffeur in a Bentley no doubt), Coulson has been looking for a change of career and may be up for some unpaid voluntary work (at his old chum Call-Me-Dave's insistence). The type of guy who loves being taken under the wing of a megalomaniac dictator to anonymously do his bidding and take the hit when it inevitably goes tits-up, I'm sure he'd nuzzle into Lord Admin in no time.

Admin pictured in 1893

Lord Admin - 100/1
Were Coulson to pull out due to unfounded press smears about his propriety, Lord Admin may have to accept a shortening of the odds. When asked about the captaincy, retorts like "f*** off" and "stick that right up yer bahooky" don't deflect some observers from thinking that 1st Team Captain is the job he covets most of all. The more vociferously he says no, the more some folk seem to think he wants it.







Frazerio - 100/1

Another game, another jaffa first up!!!

Unlikely to make a return to mediocre captaincy any time soon due to an equally unlikely Rider List. Conditions include 'pushing back starting times to 1400 hours', 'complete and total player availability' and 'being carried to and from the field of play in a green & gold Sedan Chair'.

Mug Shot!!!

McGill - 1000/1
In good grace Coco has once again agreed to lend us his considerable skills (both cricketing and oratorial) in spite of the constant abuse and ridicule we heap upon him and big money offers from elsewhere. If we weren't 99% stupid, we'd realise the gem we have in our midst and promote the Honorory Midweek Captain to the position he (says he) well and truly deserves. At 109 years old though, time is catching up on the old dear and there are lingering concerns he may have lost a yard of pace since his heyday in the 1930's.

Due to a flurry of betting activity (i.e. one person saying 'where's GT on the list?') the following odds are now added.

Gaz ThreeforFourforFiveforWartha - 9/4

Ye couldny make it up - meet Michelle Trewartha

The most obvious difficulty with GT's sudden promotion to third favourite in the running is, would his name even fit on the Captain's board (especially if he starts taking 6-for and more)? Logistics aside, doubts remain whether GT could lead a side to victory against the East Academy after recent Wif Waf pics appeared on a sleazy website. Does he have the killer instinct to bowl fast & short at kids - probably not? The Bishop & Maddoug wouldn't think twice!!!

CA's real twin already down under

C.A. - 150/1
C.A., which is short for 'Standards' might prove a controversial choice. He's known to accept conventional coaching wisdom and a is a favourer of established club no-no's like warming up (pointless) and warming back down again (doubly pointless - fact - end of). However with the imminent relocation to Oz, his availability should be a bit better than it's ever been. Still has kudos in spades after a legendary 'tour fine' when, as a fledgling powerlifter he joined the Astley-era Cross on tour in Bampton and incurred a penalty for being a 'Drain on the Safety of the Club'.

Dennis 'Spick' Pickering - 20/1
2011 was a tough year for the VC. Plagued by hacking allegations during the whole NotW fiasco and then pretty much becoming full-time skipper whenever E.C. couldn't be ersed (every week). But with the appointment of Martin O'Neill on Wearside it could be a whole new era for Arbo's favourite (only) mackem. Could he too be rejuvenated, or will the big money lure of London leave Crossers wondering 'What if...?'

Sir Shanton John/Bimbo Furnish (Joint tickets) - 12/1
Our favourite new gay Dad's initially thought they'd be missing most of the season after Sir Shanton John recently gave birth, however their Relate counsellor suggested they share baby duties taking it Saturday about. So although they will only be available half the season each, I'm assured there will always be a Bonfridge available if selected (although Sir Shanton looks different without the beard would Rab Bonfridge really fancy the preening Diva if he wasn't a multi-award winning, globe-trotting, sporting superstar feted wherever he goes - doubts always linger with such celeb match-ups)!!! Who is the Daddy??? I actually don't want to know!!!

Smokin Hottie - 5/2
All joking aside now, time to get super serious. I'm sure you'll agree there isn't enough filth on here so I couldn't help typing 'smokin hottie' into t'internet and finally settled on this, er, smokin hottie. Gratuitous it may be, but this sort of journalism should propel me into the employment of a national title in no time. My skills are quite obviously wasted on here, but when aren't they??? Ms Hottie tells me her main campaign point will be to try to convince PVB that lighting up on the field of play is no bad thing and I'd like to see that Club Legend try and disagree (while another aforementioned Club Legend starts his engine).



STILL more odds available on request.

(not) Breaking News (any more) - President to be challenged!!!

Reports in the News of the World yesterday linked retired hitman Roy 'Wotthefeckurulookinat' Keane with a move for the Presidency itself. Keane told Screws insiders "I've got the feckin beard for it so I have".

Arm-wrestling contender

Inverleith RFC - Race Night

 

Crossers are invited to a Race Night at Arbo next Saturday 26th.

Starts at 7:30pm, hosted by Inverleith Rugby Football Club.

It's in aid of Mike Gordon's daughter's charity.

Entry £5.

2nd XI go down (Ooh missus) in a thriller at the Meadows.

[Nozzer's take on the match versus Morton 1st XI]

On the first Saturday in July the summer decided to make a welcome visit to the Meadows.

Norrie as usual elected to lose the toss and the Morton skipper perhaps learning lessons from the previous week decided to put the Cross into bat.

Irfan and Nipun were given the inevitable task of leading the charge at the Meadows on a pitch which historically can play tricks on the mind. Both seemed to find there feet in the early exchanges before Nipun -for the second week running -fell victim to the dreaded LBW rule. Smudger, umpiring took a bit of time before raising the finger which signalled the end of Nipun (on a footnote when asked later, why the hesitation –“I was thinking of anyway not to give him out however I could not find one”. Next up was JB the scourge of Morton the previous week however this week with 22 to his name a faint edge saw the keeper and everyone else in Morton go up in the air as did the finger of Mr Killey so back to the sidelines and the score was sitting at 25 for 2. Nawaz quickly followed, failing to trouble the scorers for the first time this season.

Norrie then came to the crease and after facing five deliveries an almighty shout went up for LBW. However, the skip had clearly hit even though it seemed he was the only man in the Meadows who was aware of this, after a short delay and to the total disbelief of the skip up went the finger OUT!!!!! Norrie made the point that he had hit it although it seemed to no avail. As the skip tripped off still protesting his bewilderment at the wrongdoing, in an act of great sportsmanship the Morton team beckoned him back to the crease and the decision was reversed. An act of fantastic sportsmanship which should be reflected on as this was a massive game for Morton; they showed competiveness throughout but mixed this with respect to both the game of cricket and to their opposition.

Irfan and Norrie then set about getting into the Morton attack and in the process Irfan reached his maiden fifty for the two’s. The score quickly got up to 120 + before Norrie was bowled for 33. Andy Millington arrived at the crease and he kept it safe [?] as Irfan kept finding the boundary at regular intervals. Two quick wickets fell -Millington and new man Trewartha following cheaply. This brought to the crease the inform Vikram, who was reminded that no sixes had been scored today. He promised the skip that this would not happen as it was playing ‘heavy’ today (????) A swashbuckling 29 then followed and you guessed it, it included two sixes, one of which- had it not hit the tree- may well have popped in for tea at Grange Loan. Irfan then fell, scoring a magnificent 83: batting beautifully in the process and cementing his place in the two’s - sorry Ken!!!, Vikram eventually went attempting another wee hit to the boundary!! Andy Killey and Smudger took us through to the end of our 45 overs (first time this season we have batted out) and giving us the grand total of 198 for 8 [one more than the 1sts score!].

All things considered, a very good score to defend.

Morton's openers came to the crease facing Gaware and Killey and they proved to be very hard to score off with Killey getting one of the previous week’s danger men caught sharply in the slips by Smudger. The bowling from the opening two was very tight especially from Vikram who was unfortunate to miss the bat more times than seemed possible. A couple of solid partnerships then swung the game in the favour of Morton: Karthick (39) and Veera (27) suddenly made 198 look a little vulnerable. Smudger was getting the ball to swing around and he got the scalps of Karthick and Veera both LBW. This brought Nathan to the crease.

After scoring 64 the previous week, we knew that he was the danger man and a very good bat. Unfortunately he did not let us his team down playing a series of well timed shots and scoring 48 in the process before falling to Vikram who at last got his rewards: edging through to the new keeper of the two’s our fourth in six weeks: Mr Millington [!!]. There is no misprint here Millington who in jest the skip thought offered to keep wicket and when realising the skip thought he was joking pleaded for the chance, when asked for his credentials to undertake such a mammoth task (ask Shifty or Spickers about that) gave the now famous answer for the Cross “I kept wicket at school".

The game was now getting to squeaky bum time as from cruising along at 116 for 4, quick wickets from Killey and one from Usama had the score sitting at 178 for 7: suddenly the game was in the balance and two wickets in two balls and Morton were 192 for 9 with 7 required. Try as we may we could not get the elusive last wicket despite several near misses and shout for a run out. Well played to Morton it was a very exciting spectacle where both teams gave it their all on a glorious summer’s day.

Special mentions go to Irfan for a fantastic knock, Andy Killey, Vikram for their aggressive and successful bowling and Gary T for a fantastic debut for the Cross and let’s not forget Mr Millington who took three catches behind the stumps.

Many plusses to take from the last two weeks where we have taken 30 points from 40 against a previously undefeated team who are top of the league lots to be positive on and that is what we should concentrate on for the rest of the season. A special mention and thanks to Nipun who returns to India this week before heading back to Aberdeen this may be his last game for the club for some time we wish him success for the future and thank him for all of the entertainment he has given us with the bat, good luck friend.

Batting:

Irfan 83

Nipun 4

JB 22

Nawaz 0

Norrie33

A. Millington 6

Gary 1

Vikram 29

AKilley 2

Smudger 1

Usama DNB

Bowling:

Vikram 9-2-17-1

A Killey 9-0-36-4

G. Trewwartha 9-3-29-1

JBates 4.4-0-33-0

Smudger 8-0-45-2

Usama 3-0-23-1

KF....on the Twos

[By KF]

Morton (not the Greenock crew) arrived at ‘Fortress Arbo’ sitting proudly atop Division 5 with an unblemished record hoping to slay Nozzer’s New Model Army. With one squint eye looking over their shoulder at the relegation fight, HX, as is often the case, had a decent team on paper and worryingly, spirits were high. In what turned out to be a very even game for the duration, once the dust had settled, a top class innings from King Jon (129 no) proved decisive.

That’s not to say it was a one man show, I thought Andy G (9-3-18-0) and Usama (9-3-47-1) in particular looked handy with the ball, the fielding was thoroughly decent (despite IIRC, three difficult drops; me, Andy G, Usama), an ‘experienced’ 3^rd wicket partnership of 91 kept us ahead of a ‘rain result’ before a super smooth Nawaz (30 no) helped JB see us through to maximum pointage.

Canny skipper Webb, who didn’t put a foot wrong all day, drew first blood losing a ‘great toss to lose’ and accepting the request to bowl first. The conditions were perfection for June in Caledonia, dull, muggy, drizzle almost hanging in the air, although the outfield was quicker than appearances suggested. Despite the recent rain, the wicket was in good shape, with some green for the bowlers and enough pace and bounce to keep both clubbers & chuckers happy.

Andy G & Usama opened the bowling against the positive Morton openers (Sehwag impersonator included). Any loose ball was severely punished, Usama particularly harshly dealt with, taking the visitors total along nicely at around 4 an over for the first 10 or so. Their taste for the aerial route was their initial downfall. First to fall was Karthik, pouched with aplomb on the long off boundary by Nawaz. Lancashire at 3 got busy, but with Sehwag (Sannah) sitting on his bat at the non-striker's end, he failed to heed the obvious warning from an aborted quick single the ball before and called again to Badback at midwicket. Hurling the throw directly over the stumps, albeit 8 feet above them, that man Norrie, in a whirl of fluoro pink, had the bails off with Lancashire still at the bus stop on Ferry Road.

Any time the Cross took a wicket, Morton replied in a positive fashion and the teams went head to head, toe to toe, neck and neck, blow by blow (ran out of those now). At one stage the visitors looked good for 260+, then we might have kept them to around 210 as Milly (9-0-53-2) nibbled on their tail and the final 229 was a fair and respectable total from 45 overs. Nathan (64) top scored for Morton. He looked good until around 55 when he injured himself and required a runner. Smudger (7-0-48-2) apparently with his radar signal a bit scrambled & Nawaz (2-0-12-1) were our other bowlers.

Tea was well received, Mandy doing her usual madnificent (sic) stint providing pizza and cans, although skipper Webb ensured his team stayed focussed and positive with rousing one-on-one’s all around the lounge.

Cool-headed PVB and a somewhat out of sorts Nipun began the Cross reply in the increasing gloom. Nipun (6) was triggered by Andy G (keep this one in mind for the Awards night) and just as the rain forced the teams off, PVB (16) was bowled. Not missing a trick, Webb jiggled the order during the rain break, promoting your lame scribe to 4. With heavy skies and a wet pitch and outfield, conditions weren’t ideal for batting. But they were worse for bowlers, enough bad balls slipping from the bowlers' grasp to help us along. While I baseballed one of my beamers for 6 (+1 nb, behind square, leg side, where else?), JB rather comically wore one (in his trademark sunny style) after trying at least twice to play a proper shot at it. It must be said that this was sandwiched between two typically dismissive 4’s. In an innings dripping with power, positivity and class, the highlight was probably a lofted Ferry Road bound maximum which dropped just short of the wall. Any width was clattered and anything full got blootered.

Amusingly, after another beamer was dispatched for 4, Smudger at square leg called no ball, and PVB, oblivious, proclaimed ‘over’ and set off to square leg at the other end. Fortunately it didn’t matter in the end. My share of our 91 partnership was an almost whimpering 27. The consolation being I had the best seat in the ground.

With 3 down, we still required 78 from 72 balls, but Nawaz was able to continue the supporting role I’d assumed for the middle of the innings adding a few really lovely shots of his own. Long before the end, as the gloom dissipated and the sun began, almost surreally, to beat down, the league leaders became resigned to their fate, the wickets we still had in hand stacking the odds in our favour and no end in sight to Psycho’s brutality. Their last hope faded late on when the centurion was dropped, HX strolling home with 13 balls to spare.

An excellent result against a very decent side. I thought their positive attitude while batting was impressive and they’ll surely do well in Div 5 this season. Through green & gold specs, an excellent team performance with what will surely be a season’s best knock by an in-form Jonny (look, I wasn’t going to mention, but he bowled quite well too (9-0-42-1), I thought he got enough of a mention with the bat). All that’s left to say is…

Crosstastic, Crossalicious and Crossmungous!!!

brief report from the Morton perspective here.