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!

Lager-Fuelled Fuds Felled by Forbes

[PVB reports on the 3rds trip to Dalgety Bay]

A fast and bouncy track at Dalgety Bay – many surprises – first being we were 40 minutes early [!!] and started on time. Just 10 of us, but a good 10. Inserted. Paul & Mike found it hard going - so after 2 blows to the thumb Paul decided to have a rest until he could hold the bat properly return to face the pies which were being delivered by the lesser bowlers. Mike did well to keep out the openers for 14 overs, Matt surprised us all by playing a defensive shot – after a string of brave ones including smashing the bouncy bowler [?] over his head; Richard’s straight drive was majestic – oft practised in the garden no doubt. But they all got bowled and at 45-3 entered former fast bowler turned wicketkeeper-batsman Andy G.

Now turning yourself into a batsman is all the rage – Calum MacLeod, two dogs, Coco (but read on) [I omit Gary T – we know he always was a batsman], Andy is the latest -  he then proceeded to pick out any overpitched ball and dispatch it  meatily through extra cover   to  midwicket time and again – he nearly killed Paul at the bowler’s end [the bowler's end is at midwicket?]. In return, Paul tried to run him out to get him on strike. Andy and Paul put on 85 as the bowling became 'varied'  and Andy reached his maiden 50 with probably no more than a single on the off side. It was magicnificent, and he has two magic weapons – no, three!:  1, his reach & eye – anything remotely a full toss even on middle is hoisted to midwicket.   2, his bat, the provenance of which we won’t discuss, and 3 the can of lager he had just quaffed before batting. The club 3^rd XI kit should now include plentiful cans of cool lager.

At about 130-3,  Paul departed for 30. Then a new bowler who had allegedly never bowled for the club in his many games had Andy well caught at longish-on, followed by Coco who  received a absolute jaffa missed a straight one first ball. Ken and Ted perished in the chase, and Dave & Keith got us over the 150 mark.

So that wasn’t bad. But we knew Murray Forbes could tonk a bit – a century last week. Someone said it was a bit like facing a team with  Chris Gayle in – if you don’t get him out, you lose. So Murray went at a hell of a pace – a straight six off Matt’s first over was a pointer, and he had no respect for seniors either, dispatching Ellis snr over his head for another. Ok, it wasn’t chanceless  [name the guilty men Paul] but you just have to admire it; he probably reached his 91 in about the same number of balls that Ken took v Morton to get off the mark! He was even out before the drinks break. It was over 100 before Keith came on and was given the same treatment in his first over; then he bowled well, conceding only 28 in 7 overs. Andy pouched his first catch behind the stumps.

Dalgety Bay were fabulous hosts, provided a sumptuous tea.

Final Ball Drama with Old Friends Marchmont

[By E. C. Smith]

Gone was the beautiful sunshine from Saturday to be replaced by a slightly more overcast day at Myreside. However, pitch conditions looked good and all four teams were eager to take advantage of the rare opportunity to play on a national league pitch. The ActivCity ‘finals day’ pitched favorites Marchmont and Holy Cross against lower league opponents in the form of Drummond Trinity and Morton.

Inserted into bat by Morton, Holy Cross recovered well (after the early wicket of Keith Fraser) and pushed to around 60 after 10 overs. Although not capitalizing fully on this position Holy Cross got to a respectable total of around 125, helped by thirty odds from Owais and Charlie and a very elegant 18 not out from Vikram. Highlights of the innings included 2 towering sixes from Owais which was a sign of the pyrotechnics to come later in the day!

The instructions for the second half were to bowl quick and straight in the search for early wickets and ‘Aussie Pat’ duly obliged with a season best of 5-4 off his 4 overs! After Morton’s top order had been ransacked the result was never really in doubt but some good catches and disciplined support bowling meant that Morton were dismissed for around 60. While this was a resounding win for Holy X credit must also go to Morton for the spirit they showed and the variety and skill of (in particular) their bowling attack.

This not only led us into the finals against Marchmont but also to a hearty tea which included prawns which were devoured with remorseless vigour by c.g.j mcgill (I was impressed)! Captain E. C Smith then repeated his ‘tactic’ of losing the toss and we again found ourselves inserted onto a quickish (but lowish) Myreside track. What then happened was a stellar batting effort spearheaded by Owais who moved to fifty not out off around 10 overs, leaving the score at around 75-1. At this point Owais began to struggle with a leg injury but that did not prevent him carving a succession of Marchmont bowlers for 4’s and 6’s to all corners of the ground. It truly was a majestic effort and he found able support in the form of Pickering, C, Ellis and Keith Fraser, with Holy Cross closing their innings on 152-3.

While we knew this was a score that was around fifteen runs over par we were also aware of the threat posed by a Marchmont side which included recent recruits to support the experience of Collier, MacGregor and Sardesai. McGregor and Collier got off to a solid start and hit enough 4’s to make sure they were not too far behind the rate after the first few overs. However, a good catch on the boundary by Keith (from the bowling of Shannon) brought top league run scorer Matt Loeffen to the crease. The danger man was keen to get on with things and could have found himself run out early on before he started to pepper the boundary - Mazher style! The overseas man got to 36 in triple quick time but a good catch by Charlie, off the bowling of Dougie, saw him dismissed around the same time as MacGregor – with the score on around 75-3 off 11 overs.

Although slightly behind the rate, at this point, the experienced Sardesai manipulated the ball well behind square and made sure his team were not too far behind the curve. However, he was out going for one shot too many and his dismissal brought captain Sam Peachey to the crease with 60 needed off the last 6 overs. The captain produced an extraordinarily composed innings and resisted the temptation to go for suicide runs, whilst still pushing the Holy Cross fielding to its limits. He also started to find the boundary with increasing regularity and his potence was such that the Marchmont men required only 9 to win off the last over.

Aussie pat was given the task of dragging the impetus back in our direction and produced some fine deliveries under pressure. However, he was very unlucky to see an inside and outside edge cost 6 runs off two balls and a rushed leg bye left Marchmont one run off victory with one ball remaining. Pat then produced an exceptional delivery which was too good for the batsman (and the stumps) but Marchmont pushed through for the run with Simon’s throw missing the stumps by about an inch.

This was an incredibly exciting game played in the best of spirits and congratulations must go to Marchmont for a thrilling run chase! While there was no official man of the match award this surely would have gone to Owais whose innings of 93* was stamped full of swashbuckling quality.

Thanks also to the organisors of the tournament and to Colin McGill for doing the scoring in both matches. One that we will have to reluctantly put down to experience and take what we can out of in advance of Wednesday. Little doubt that if we produce the same sort of performance on Wednesday we should get the right result to reward us for what has been a very good season!

As with Sunday, all supporters are welcome with the game starting at 17:45 at Newfield…

Brief Evening News report here.

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.

Vik's best ever not enough..

midweek friendly (at Arbo-7th June)

Holy Cross 142-6 (18 overs)
V. Gaware 75*

Macabi 143-4 (18 overs)
R. Javed 82

Despite the Thunderstorm 2 hours beforehand, we were able to play an enjoyable match versus Macabi-indeed the final overs were played in pleasant sunshine. Cross started strongly despite CA and cje getting run out (but note, no Matt Prior style tantrum) but it was Vik who dominated the innings with 75-his 2nd midweek 50 of the season-and his BEST EVER score!!. Our bowling was mixed though Dave Sharpe bowled a good opening spell and Matt C bowled some good deliveries. The others tended to find Raja's hitting zones too often and their deliveries threatened only those in the upper deck of the 27 buses! A few missed chances (Johnny almost getting Raja) but Johnny took a nice catch at mid on (but was the dive strictly necessary?).