League Weekend 19

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1st....oh wait
• 2nds vs
• 3rds vs

1st XI v Grange II @ Fettes - 28/07/2012

Whilst some of the cricket wasn't the most picturesque, the setting wasn't too bad and it was a fantastic toss to lose. These are taken in the last 10 overs.

Bonfield playing in the V

Skipper square cuts

Bonfield defends.

Bonfield v ex Warwickshire captain Mike Powell

Russell showing off his technique

McOscar bats, bowls, keeps wicket and even does the scorebook.

Bonfield tickles one round the corner

Note the game on the pitch next to us had exited stage left and the covers were on whilst we soldiered on.

A familiar site at cricket grounds this summer - puddles.

CS Challenge Semi

We learn that Glasgow Accies beat Irvine 3-2 in a bowl-off, so our CS Challenge cup semi will be away at their Anniesland ground next Sunday (8th July). With Andy G  and DR away, please contact KF with your availability.

The Sun DID always shine..

Given the current period of poor weather, it's tempting to believe that we are experiencing a uniquely wet cricket season.  One senior Crosser has posited that since 1996 the summers weather in the Edinburgh area have become decidedly wetter-more like Glasgow.  Is he right? 

The weather was always like this

The figures below suggest that -as with popular music-things really were better in the past...  Or are there other reasons why more fixtures were completed? Tougher men? Were cancelled games resheduled?

Number of HX Ist XI league fixtures completed (from Hugh K's stats):
note 1984!!

1975 11 out of 12
1976 10 out of 12
1977 13 out of 14
1978 13 out of 14
1979 12 out of 14
1980 12 out of 14
1981 12 out of 14
1982 10 out of 14
1983 12 out of 14
1984 18 out of 18
1985 13 out of 18
1986 16 out of 18
1987-14 out of 18
1988-12 out of 18
1989-16 out of 18
1990-16 out of 18
1991 17 out of 18
1992 16 out of 18
1993 16 out of 18
1994 14 out of 16 

1995 17 out of 18
1996 16 out of 18
1997 14 out of 18
1998 15 out of 18
1999-13 out of 18
2000-13 out of 18
2001 15 out of 18
2002 11 out of 18
2003 15 out of 18
2004 13 out of 18
2005 16 out of 18
2006 16 out of 18
2007 12 out of 18
2008  9  out of 18
2009 15 out of 18
2010 17 out of 19
2011 12 out of 19
2012  6  out of 10

Soggy Success

 Pre-season Friendly (at Arboretum Playing Fields)

40 overs per side (later reduced-after rain delay- to 35 overs per side)

Edinburgh CC 173ao (31.4 overs)
Majeed 109
D. Russell 4/ 20, S. McOscar 2/32

Holy Cross 176/ 7 (33.5 overs)
R. Javed 59, E. Smith 31, K. Fraser 22*, O. Mahzer 16.
U. Farooq 2/17, Irshad  2/40

more details to follow...

Rain reigns at Arbo as commonsense prevails in President's Trophy Final

It was a clash of the Division 1 Titans as 1st played 2nd in the end of term President's Trophy.

A coin toss went the way of the Cross and home advantage of hosting the tie at Fortress Arbo was awarded.

Rain overnight had left the square soft underfoot and as the Captain's went out to toss, it was clear that conditions above and below were likely to play a heavy part in the outcome of the game.

Fauldhouse were out the traps fast with their opening bowlers doing some fine damage. Owais run out, KF bowled, Spickers and CJE also returning to the Portacabin early on and it was 24-4 after 12 of the allocated 40 overs.

KO for KF


EC Smith was caught on the boundary as the cold and lonely scribe and photographer went for a heat in what had become a wet and perishingly cold day.

Calum joined his sibling after the Umpire took a long and hard look at an LBW shout before the trigger went up.

Bimbo then sent words of encouragement via Twitter from his Maternity Ward shopping trip with Mrs Bimbo and the BimboBump.

118 after the 40 overs - not a great score - but with the rain continuing and the light fading, who knew what the matchplay ball from Lords could do.

Tea was a feast of hot and cold foods and once again we thank Mandy for her efforts - often taken for granted.

Back out on the oval and Fauldhouse were in combat against the Cross and the Conditions, the latter to finally be their undoing.

Shannon, fresh from picking up his Player of the Year award the night before, was in fine form, unlucky not to get off the mark with some top class deliveries.

Jumping BeJesus

Pat has an LBW shout turned down

Lynch did manage a breakthrough when Owais held on to a drive from a Fauldhouse opener however as the conditions continued to deteriorate, the Umpires consulted each other and took the players off.

The Umpires decide enough really is enough

Naturally, both Teams were keen to get their hands on the silverware on offer however with the rain continuing to fall early into the Edinburgh evening, to have carried on would have been unsafe and not in the interests of the game of amateur cricket.

The rain clearly visible as is the punter on Ferry Road with their brolly!


For me, it was a poor end to a great season at Fortress Arbo for the Cross. On a personal note, it has been a tough season of no play due to injury. But beware, the Broonster will be back in 2012!!

Rain the only winner

Saturday scores digest.

1sts

Div 1 -At Craiglockhart.

Watsonian 2nds 145ao (38.3 overs)
A. Sim 54, T. Boorman 33

S. Bonfield 6.3/2/2/16
G. Trewartha 10/1/6/39
Bainbridge 7/1/1/25
Killey 3/0/0/23
Russell 5/1/1/17
Ellis 6/0/0/17
Morcom 1/0/0/7

match abandoned at Tea-persistent heavy rain.

2nds-at Arboretum

Murrayfield-Dafs 3rds 134ao
S. Tahir 24
C. Smith 3-30, N. Webb 4-20

3rds-at Double Hedges

Kirk Brae 2nds 199-9
G. Moss 49, T. Dodd 53, Tahir 26, A. Raja 25
A. Mohammed 4/36

...Breaking News...Scottish Cup match vs Irvine is OFF ......

...... due to waterlogged pitch.

Reserve date: May 29th -at Arbo.

http://www.cricketscotland.com/ScottishCup09

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....

Belter Skelter - Former Crosser Malik helps Tranent secure win

After a series of downpours in the Capital, tonight's T20 clash with Tranent was in doubt not only right until the opening delivery, but almost throughout the whole clash, which was reduced to a 16 overs fixture.

The tourists contained several well-kent faces, indeed, it almost resembled a Holy Cross Select with the Brothers Russell, Josey, McIntosh, Broonster (albeit pending Dougie's arrival) and former Crosser Suli Malik all taking part.



Cross batted first, hoping to get some runs on the board before the rain appeared. After a positive opening partnership from Vikram and Shifty got sidetracked by the rain, Vikram retired (38) to allow Kiwi Matt the chance to get his first taste of Arbo.

With all the panache and footwork of Bambi on Ice, the man from Napier (no, not the Uni!) was slipping and a sliding to his early downfall, skittled by Craigmile for a single.



Michael from the Rugby Club was in at 4 and hung around until another shower - this time forcing the players to the huts.



By this time, Shifty was suggesting CoCo had lost his marbles and he sent Sandy out to keep Michael company. Sadly, this partnership didn't last long at the somewhat soggy and squidgy crease and both headed back to the portacabins within minutes, Michael run out for a duck and Sandy tempted by a fine delivery from Dougie which he sliced it to Craigmile, adding 4 to the total.



Big Andy Killey and Nippun contributed the equivalent of the quantity of slices of bread to make a sandwich - two a piece - and the incumbent Rent Boy Graham was skittled for a duck - highly appropriate given the conditions!



Weatherhead and Malik opened for the Belters. The former had trouble keeping his feet in the quagmire and was eventually undone by a somewhat perverse piece of bowling from Pope - in Town for the Festival - which saw the ball splodge in the mud, hit the bat, squidge and slip onto the base of the stumps and tip the bails. All part of the technique apparently...



Sadly, that was to be the only Cross success, with Malik going on to make 34 before giving way to Craigmile who joined Josey to set up a victory with an over to spare.



Credit to all the players who stuck at it, and to Bimbo for turning up. And a big thanks to Charlie for his understanding when he sees the pics of the wicket....

All the pics now online at Broonster's Facebook

1st and 2nds Rained off.

Lacking the moral fibre/ idiocy of the 3rd XI, the 1st XI match (Home to Glenrothes) and 2nd XI match (away to Leith FAB) were cancelled without a ball being bowled.

Macabi Midweek Match off

Tonight's (Tues 8th) friendly game vs Macabi has been called off - pitch already too wet and little prospect of drying weather before 6pm.

Rearranged for Thursday 1st July.

Fraser Flourish Can't Prevent Triple Loss for Cross

Given poor availability, 3 losses is not a major surprise - though still disappointing. 2nds were very unlucky with the infamous rain rule.

1sts
Holy Cross 141ao
D. Russell 55, R. Bainbridge 30, R. Worsnop 27.

Fauldhouse 144-3
D.J. Allan 50odd.

partial scorecard here

For the 2nd successive occasion, the 1sts failed in their attempt to beat Fauldhouse with less than 2/3rds of the 1st team. After an early collapse, Dougie and Bainbro put together a fluent partnership of 60 odd and got us back into the game. But despite Robin's efforts, the absence of our usual batting depth meant we were unable to get the near a competitive total. Hopefully availability will pick up next week and beyond.

2nds
PVB reports that:

Holy Cross probably lost to Edinburgh Accies by 0.002 of a run. Holy Cross scored 188 all out; their run rate is 4.17778. Accies scored 117-5 after 27.4 overs; their run rate is 4.17857. By multiplying the Holy Cross run rate of 4.1778 by 28 overs you get 116.98.

Is the target 117 or is it 118 if Holy Cross' score is rounded up to 117? Can you win by 0.002 of a run? Your views please!

There was no argument after the game - it was played in the most sporting manner possible. It does highlight the fact the old rule of a game counting after 24/27/30 overs of a second innings was made when we had the draw - without the draw it is a win/lose situation and unfair.

Ziggy will give his reaction at 3.17am.

3rds
Lost to Dalgety Bay by about 5 wickets - details below from Broonster.

Cross Duck out of SCU Trophy

An ahem.... 'understrength' Cross side came up well short against DHSFP in the SCU Trophy 1st round. In a game shortened to 40 overs per side and interrupted by one very heavy shower-but ending in fine sunshine, Dundee simply had far greater strength in depth. Nice to play in a game played in good spirits with plenty of friendly banter.

full scorecard here

Dundee High School FP 211/ 7 (40 overs)
K. Ancell 46, A. Nadir 40, D. Bailwal 34, D. Kyles 45,
V. Gaware 8/1/23/2
S. Bonfield 8/0/34/2
C. Ellis 8/2/29/0
C. McGill 5/ 0/ 42/ 1
N. Webb 5/ 0/ 40/ 1
E. C. Smith 6/0 38/1

A decent effort in the field, keeping things tight for the 1st 17 overs or so and then sticking at it against the inevitable onslaught against the change bowlers in the later overs. Some good catches by Shannon (x2), Vikram and EC (running back), and two sharp ones by Spick. A good effort too by those from the 2nd and 3rd XIs.

Holy Cross 123ao (33 overs)
C. Ellis 76*, E.C. Smith 11, C. McGill 6......it would be fair to say that the middle and lower order didn't fire: ducks for nos 4, 5, 6, 7..... 8, 9...(Calum MacIntosh putting several others to shame with a spirited 2). At 64/1 off 17 we were well in the game before EC and Shannon fell in successive Bailwal overs. The drying pitch was a little tricky after overnight rain and the heavy shower but perhaps not THAT tricky.
D. Bailwal 4/20
Hyatt 2/22
Nadir 2/ 37

Thanks to those irregulars who turned out and to Andy Q for doing some scoring and washing up after tea -and Smudger for his encouraging comments from over the fence. Good luck to Dundee HSFP in the next round.

1st attempt rained off

Steady morning /early afternoon rain caused the cancellation of the 1sts' pre-season game versus M/Dafs.

What's that old joke about the the most reliable way to end a period of drought being to stick 6 pieces of wood into the middle of a tightly mown field...

In truth we didn't get as far as putting any stumps in the ground.

Weather did pick up later but it would've been a soggy and chilly game.

Let's hope for better weather next week-when we take on Marchmont.

A PLEA:
CAN CROSSERS PLEASE DESIST FROM STORING THE SCOREBOARD/ BOX OF NUMBERS, SCORERS' TABLE (AND ANYTHING ELSE LIKELY TO ROT IN A DAMP ATMOSPHERE) IN THE CONTAINER. PLEASE FIND A DRY PLACE TO STORE THEM. CHEERS.

Ludicrous weather (part 3 of a continuing series)

surely we're not considering cricket in this....





Grange Loan earlier this evening




Breaking news: 2nds match vs Largo is OFF

Also the 1st's match vs Carlton is OFF
no news yet re the thirds, though I doubt that the Meadows will be in a playable condition (unless someone's pinched a tent from a festival venue and put it over the square...)

Shock News: 2nds Avoid Defeat...1sts & 3rds Win

The 2nds match at Newfield (where they have covers) was rained off... Meanwhile at uncovered Arbo....

[match started at 3pm; reduced to 35 overs per side]
Watsonians II 136-8
B. Fox 72
R. Worsnop 4-10

Holy Cross 138-7
E. Smith 32
D. Russell 21

After morning/early afternoon rain (that seemed to cause a number of games in the vicinity to be called off too early) we managed to get the ground playable by 3pm using the soon to be patented 'Smith-Bonfield rope trick'*.

Top class spell from Two-Dogs (including key bat Flannigan and ex-Crosser Hamish Peddie with his 1st ball...it looked like a full bunger..it was a yorker) set us on the way and despite a decent knock from Jon's buddy Ben Fox and some slightly loose bowling later in the innings we kept them below a par score.

Things a bit tense when (after a run-out) we went from 125-4 to 126-7 but some brave shots from Bainbro got us home.

At least the 2nds were able to make a contribution: drunkenly barracking the 1st team (including Smudger volubly discussing the relative merits of his sons' batting - yes we could ALL hear you).

Watsonians' view of proceedings:
http://www.watsoniancricket.co.uk/news.php?id=287

in Div 8:
at the Gyle

Kirk Brae II 127 ao

Holy Cross III 129-2

*also used to good effect on Sunday.

Cross Make Progress in Cricket Scotland Trophy

This post was originally published under the title "Cross Make Progress in Cricket Scotland Trophy ?" Since then Cricket Scotland have confirmed us as the "winners". Hard on Dundee HSFP. We hope to meet them again on a sunnier day. (Admin)

The scorecard of the match and the SCU trophy Draw/ results can be viewed here: http://www.cricketscotland.com/node/6244

Heavy rain brought our match vs Dundee High FPs at Arbo to a premature conclusion.

The competition rules would suggest that we were ahead of the run rate at the time but....
we'll leave it to Cricket Scotland to sort out...

Holy Cross 238-5
C. Ellis 118, E. Smith 81
E. Parsons 2-25
J. Landwehr 2-23

I believe that the partnership of 193 between Smith and Ellis may well constitute a new 1st team record-beating the previous best of 174 (though that remains the league record) achieved in 1978 (PVB and HK, can you double check...). It's certainly the most these two batsman have put on together: beating the 146 they put on in the same competition at Forfar last year and the 132 they put on at Goldenacre in 2005.

Dundee HSFP 54-2 off 13 overs
K. Kyles 35*
S. Bonfield 2-19

Late Breaking News...1sts win shortened match

In a match delayed by 2 hours by a heavy rain storm at about 1pm and reduced to 35 overs per side.

Carlton 2 161ao off 34.3 overs
(T. Barratt 39, P. Swan 35; P. Kumar 3-38, S. Bonfield 2-18)

Holy Cross 162-6 off 33.3 overs
(C. A. Smith 43, C. Ellis 39)

Carlton's view of proceedings:
http://www.carltoncc.co.uk/fixtures_2009_2.htm#June14

Our 'frantic efforts' to get the pitch ready-not sure anything involving our super-slow roller can be described as 'frantic'... Anyway the rest of it is accurate...

Brief mention of the game in the Evening News Digest:
http://sport.scotsman.com/cricket/Cricket-Heriot39s-II--fall.5365557.jp

The 2nds were called off after 13 overs, while the 3rds lost by 3 wickets to Morton II after making 129.

Details to follow.....

Remember that we play in Cricket Scotland Trophy on Sunday-1pm start at Arboretum.

All 3 teams undefeated

Both the 1st & 2nd team matches were called off without a ball being bowled.

The 3rds managed about 14 overs, reducing Mufs 4th XI to about 24-2 (I'm relying here on someone with a somewhat unreliable memory [apparently it was 49-2!]). Apparently the game was then cancelled as the rain got heavier and "everyone was a bit cold".

Given that the weather was excellent from about 4.30pm and the match was being played on an artificial wicket, why wasn't the game completed??