HX IIs (20 Points!!) beat DAFS IIIs (9 points) by 8 runs.
Having lost the toss we were asked to bat on the artificial at Roseburn. Shifty and Nippun got us off to a good start putting on 35 off the first 17 (not rapid but saw off both the opening bowlers which was important). This is also the second highest opening stand for the 2s of the season and certainly the longest - well done guys! Both then fell with the score on 35 bringing Shannnon and JB to the crease. The tempo was upped to 4 an over during the course of the next 15. JB went for 23 in the 32nd (the partnership was worth 57). We then managed to increase the tempo to over 6 an over during the next 7 overs, with yours truly going for 36 in the 40th (partnership worth 46). Shanon meanwhile was playing sensible cricket at the other end whilst we kept trying to push the score along (eventually going for 38). Andy Q made a quick 9 and Shammo and Amjid were run out trying to get us past the 170 mark. We finished on 168 for 8, with wides contributing 23 and extras in total worth 36!
We took to the field and were soon under the cosh when their very very powerful opener took a shine to the new ball and smacked three 4s in no time. Thankfully Tom Wright bowled him with an off cutter and the run rate slowed - briefly. Their No3 took a liking to Tom and Amjid and soon got the run rate going again. After 10 overs Dafs were 54 for 1. At this point Shannon mentioned that he had to go soon so having thought about it for all of a nano second, skip decided to bring him on. First ball he bowled the opener for 4, who for some bizarre reason decided to shoulder arms. The run rate slowed and by the 17th over they were on 77 needing a further 92 to win off 28 overs. Shannon then trapped the No3 LBW for 26 and 4 overs later in his 6th and final over had an LBW shout turned down against their No4. This got the blood pressure going and Shannon then clean bowled the guy next ball, got the No6 LBW first ball and then clean bowled the No7 first ball too for good measure. Having got a hat trick off his last three deliveries he realised what the time was and had to go, leaving us with 10 men from the 22nd over (cheers for the jug, it was appreciated!). Gerry then trapped the No8 in front next over and Dafs were suddenly 90 for 7 with 23 overs to go. Andy Lacey, Mufs skip then knuckled down with their No 9 to take the score on to 140, before that man Lohan had him trapped in front for 46. The 9th wicket went in the 35 over, Tom Wright clean bowling the No10 with the first ball of his second spell. Dafs now needed 25 to win off 10 overs. JB came on from the Water of Leith end and his first 5 overs went for 5. Shammo came on from the stadium end and his 2 overs went for 5. Dafs now needed 8 off 8 balls (was getting a bit squeaky bum time). Thankfully the No9 finally went for a shot and spooned one up to point for Shammo to pouch - HX win! Well done one and all.
Amjid 9-0-39-0
Tom Wright 9-0-32-2
Shannon 6-2-14-5
Gerry 9-2-22-2
James Burgess 3-1-27-0
JB 5.5-2-7-1 (the important one at that!)
Shammo 2-0-5-0
Many many jugs followed at Arbo, having first gone to the Murrayfield Arms with the oppos.
We are now on 52% and third from bottom, having overtaken Largo who are now on 50%. Let's not blow it by losing to Heriots at home next Saturday!
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Mufs' skipper's view:
ReplyDelete'Having won the toss and elected to field the bowlers all bowled very well keeping the scoring down to less than 3 an over. Whilst wickets were not tumbling the slow scoring rate meant that they were not building a huge total to chase. In fact despite a 6 over spell where HX skipper was going for his shots we controlled the oppostion well. So HX scored 168 off their 45 overs which on reflection was 20/25 runs too many based on our bowling performance and their batting ability but left a required rate of 3.5 runs/over which was more than achievable by our batting line up. Our only belemish in the field were the number of extras as we gave them 28 wides or no balls which is another 4.4 overs and 28 extra runs. Compare that to HX's which was only 16.
So after tea we set about the run chase. It started in good fashion with Kidd playing some cracking cricket shots (yes that is correct - cricket shots). Unfortunately he gifted his wicket by trying maybe one cricket shot to many. Enter Shah for his debut in 3s and soon went about dispatching the bowling around the ground. We had safely reach the 54 before Bonfield entered HX's bowling attack and removed Beratta first bowl. In a 6 over spell he managed to take our score from 54 for 1 to 85 for 6 including a hat-trick with his last 3 balls before he departed the game early. This left me with the more than capable tail to try and get the remaining 85 runs for victory. Unfortunately we lost Sunki only five runs later and we were 90 for 7. Having been joined by Yerneni I went about chasing down the runs against the very ordinary bowling attack in the absense of Bonfield with the exception of Lohan who bowled a very consistant line and length. Unfortunately I misjudged Lohan's second last bowl of his entitlement and was LBW for 46 leaving the remaining 2 wickets to get the required 27 runs. Despite Yelland falling without addition to the score a great effort by Yerneni and Leonard to achieve the required runs failed just 8 runs short of victory with 7 balls remaining.
Ultimately we were undone by a the normal HX 2s side with the exception of the guest appearance of one very good bowler who accounted for 5 of our 7 batsmen. We knew of his ability and unfortunately did not deal with it.
A great effort by all with bat and bowl to get us so close and the immense fighting spirit to win the game regardless'.
hehehe.
ReplyDeleteAlso, his comments are a bit harsh on the rest of our bowling attack, and for that matter our batsmen too!!! He fails to mention that we fielded with 10 men for 20 odd overs after Shannon left and with only 9 for the rest. We should also have beaten them at home! They might have faired better had their skip not psyched out his own team at tea with tails of wow and destruction wreaked by Shannon on the DAFs 1s in the past! Not my fault he couldn't play for our 1s due to work commitments. I'm happy to play with 10 again for the last quarter of the next game too if this is the result, however, HX 2s are good enough to stay up without him and i hope he returns to the 1s at the expense of the oppo batsmen in div 1.