A look back at the 3rd XI reports from 2006, usually written by Crawford or his fine deputy Alan.
Here is the final table followed by the first game of the season: I'll add more if anyone reads this and wants more.
====================
Division 7
Team P W L T Points %
Cask & B 17 13 4 0 285 83.82
Fauldhouse 2 16 12 4 0 257 80.31
Livingston 2 16 11 5 0 255 79.69
Cramond 2 17 11 6 0 268 78.82
Edinburgh 3 16 9 7 0 211 65.94 1 default
M/DAFS 3 17 7 10 0 210 61.76
Holy Cross 3 17 6 11 0 189 55.59
West Loth 3 15 6 9 0 165 55 2 defaults
Dunbar 17 5 12 0 161 47.35 2 defaults
Clacks C 2 16 2 14 0 100 31.25 1 default
========================
EDINBURGH CC – 30 April 2006
Hi guys…
First game of the season and nice to see the whole of Holy Cross with good availability.
A beautiful day yesterday for cricket, and interesting to see the Venue of Campbell Park for the first time, which is surprisingly good. Nice facilities, and a decent pitch…..far outstrips what the Meadows can currently offer.
After winning the toss, we put Edinburgh 3’s in to bat, and although we started well, their batting strength soon showed as they posted a formidable 172 all out against us. Although that looks like a large total (Well…it is…doesn’t just look like it), it doesn’t say how many balls they put in the air that could have gone anywhere, and it doesn’t show the effort put in by what must be one of Holy Cross’s youngest ever bowling attacks. (Not including Richard Ellis, obviously J )
Sulaiman Malik, as ever, returned fine figures with a fine first spell, and got the final wicket upon his return for his second spell, Hamish Peddie bowled very well indeed for a couple of wickets, but vice-captain Alan Matthews returned the figures of the day with 4 for 29. (Couple of obligatory inswinging neck high full tosses in there as well).
Sulaiman Malik: 5.4o – 1m – 21r – 2w
Alan Matthews: 9o – 1m – 29r – 4w
Hamish Peddie: 6o – 0m – 23r – 2w
Osman Malik: 4o – 0m – 42r – 0w
Richard Ellis: 9o – 1m – 20r – 1w
Qasim Malik: 5o – 0m – 30r – 0w
After a nice tea, our reply was a little unfortunate with the loss of a number of early wickets, and compounded further down by some bizarre running between the wickets giving Edinburgh three Run Outs. However, Edinburgh bowled very tidily indeed, and are a very competent side, pressing what advantage they’d gained, and winning the match as the Holy Cross reply ended on 100 all out.
Strangest moment of the day coming during our batting with Sulaiman lifting a shoulder high full toss (given immediately as a No-Ball) straight up in the air….when I say straight up, I mean basically about a foot and a half away from Sulaiman. Unaware where the ball had gone, Sulaiman charges of down the wicket, while his skipper watches the ball sail up, knowing quite happily that his opening bat is quite safe, and not out when the keeper catches it. You can imagine the surprise when the skipper turns and sees his batting partner standing at the same end as he is. After a very brief exchange of glances, the skipper trudges off in what can only be a described as a selfless display of gallantry and heroism, allowing his young opening bat to continue on his path to a glorious maiden half-century….which he would have done had his cousin Qasim not run him out not long afterwards.
Again, some positives to be taken from the batting, with Sulaiman battling for a very nice 43, the skipper discovering where the middle of the bat is, and scoring the most of his runs in the space of three deliveries, and Hamish Peddie again looking very useful with the bat as well.
Mike Nevin - c&b for 1
Sulaiman Malik – Run Out for 43
James Bailey – Bowled for 1 (Unlucky too…very very nice ball)
Mahmood Din – Bowled for 0
Richard Ellis – Bowled for 0
Paul Bailey – Bowled for 3
Crawford Mackay – Run Out for 15
Hamish Peddie – Run Out for 9
Qasim Malik – Bowled for 3
Osman Malik – Caught for 3
Alan Matthews – Not Out for 3
Extras 20
Total 100 All Out
Clearly, it appears we have issues with the ball hitting the stumps when we’re batting J
Nice effort guys, and given the performances yesterday, I think we’re going to be fine this year….the score didn’t quite reflect the game.
Cheers,
Crawford.
Posts
2nd game - no win yet
ReplyDeleteLIVINGSTON - May 8th 2006
Hi guys,
Availability caused a few interesting headaches at selection on Tuesday, with a very large pool of available players. Apologies to those not selected.
The day started looking a little poor, with the clouds gathering and a little early rain starting to fall as the Livingston boys turned up. Fortunately, it held off, and we managed to get started. A late injury to James Bailey allowed the season debut of Fazal Malik who was good enough to run home and grab his kit so we had a full eleven at very late notice.
After losing the toss, we batted first, and started will with Mike Nevin scoring his first runs for the club before falling to a sharp catch in the slips, but Sulaiman and Mike had laid a platform, and the batsmen who followed built on that platform. Elder statesmen Ellis and Geddes scored freely, and pushed the score on after Sulaiman lost his wicket. Bailey senior was unlucky to receive a rather good delivery from the Livingston all-rounder Neil Jarvis. Faisal Anwar took five wickets for Livingston as the Holy Cross middle and lower order hit out, with Peddie, Mackay, F Malik and Sharpe all in particularly aggressive mood. An excellent effort by Cross, saw us to a closing total of 176 for 8 from the allotted 45 overs.
After a very nice tea indeed (Far in advance of normal Holy Cross standard and thanks must be given to Mrs Bailey for assisting with the tea), we took to the field in buoyant mood, looking for the upset victory. Things were looking good for us as Sulaiman Malik and Alan Matthews both starting with excellent first spells, Matthews bowling his 9 overs straight. Matthews finally managed to remove their more dangerous opening bat (And his middle stump) who was beginning to look comfortable at one end, but Alan was consistently giving him problems. Alan followed this up by taking the prized wicket of David Vettese to end a fine bowling spell. Keith Geddes took his first scalp of the season trapping the other opener LBW. Derek Peach opened his account for the season as well by bowling the number five bat for a duck. Skipper Mackay managed to collect an interesting (and painful) variety of bruises from his bowling staff including wrist, chin, thigh and knee. However, things began to turn Livingston’s way with Neil Jarvis and Faisal Anwar attacking the bowling. Both batsmen gave chances, but we couldn’t manage to capitalise on them, and they batted Livingston home with four overs to spare, ending the chase on 177 for 4 from 41.
Mention has to go to both Sulaiman and Alan for good bowling spells, and the whole batting order for finally scoring the runs that we were always actually capable of scoring. J
Well done guys, we just ran into a couple of batsmen who were in form. We played well, they played well…..we’re certainly not to be considered a weak side in the division now.
Cheers,
Crawford.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete3rd match - a win at last
ReplyDeleteWEST LOTHIAN - 15 May 2006
Hi Guys,
This third instalment of the story of the Holy Cross 3rd XI’s adventures, sees us pit our collective might/age/talent against the men from West Lothian.
A bad start to proceedings occurred while on the way to the BP Grangemouth ground, as the Captain and Vice Captain missed the turn off that was indicated in the fairly comprehensive directions supplied, and proceeded to take the “scenic” route around Grangemouth. Upon arriving, however, the captain immediately headed out to the square with counterpart Bruce Dixon, won the toss, and invited West Lothian to get their pads on.
An excellent start (again) to the 3rd’s bowling was seen from Geddes and Matthews, with the latter completing his 9 allotted overs straight through at a very economical rate (with no neck-high inswinging full tosses, much to the disappointment of his captain). Geddes completed his first spell of five overs by giving up only three runs.
During all of this, the first wicket fell, thanks to the opposition once again underestimating the fielding ability of Qasim Malik. Again, seeing that he wasn’t going to get to the ball quick enough, they decided to chance his arm to come back for a second run. Mistake….big one. Qasim picked up the ball at third man, turned, took aim, and fired a bullet about six inches outside off stump for the already smiling captain to whip off the bails. Another team that wont be taking “One for the Throw” with Q Malik.
From here, however, their number one (Halliday) and three (Jacobs) batsmen took some measure of control, both building steady and patient half-centuries. The latter batsman could have been removed, however, a catch (and believe me, it was definitely a catch) by “Cat” Lawrie at point was turned down by the umpire for hitting the batsman’s toe, however the batsman indicated, “No,I definitely hit it…I just don’t think you caught it”. Sigh…..
Ellis finally got the breakthrough, removing Jacobs for 53, and the returning Peddie in his second spell picked up a couple of deserved wickets shortly after that. Geddes wrapped up the wicket taking with a couple of wickets as well. Again, a nice performance with the ball, and no complaints to be had, as there were few genuine chances given by the opposition batsmen, and some pretty controlled bowling held a decent batting side to an attainable total.
Good jobs by Matthews, Ellis and Malik who all bowled their nine overs right through (especially Malik, who’s figures don’t represent how well he actually bowled……wickets are definitely coming, Qasim!), and also from Geddes and Peddie who produced lively spells, and deserved their wickets.
West Lothian finishing on 170 for 6 off 45 Overs.
Keith Geddes: 9o – 4m – 30r – 2w
Alan Matthews: 9o – 2m – 22r – 0w
Hamish Peddie: 9o – 1m – 36r – 2w
Richard Ellis: 9o – 0m – 27r – 1w
Qasim Malik: 9o – 0m – 40r – 0w
...part two, batting, on next comment
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAfter what could be termed as an interesting tea, which involved the opposing skipper informing us of the history of the BP Grangemouth ground, inclusive of the teatime tale of when the ground was closed for a year due to someone being burned to death by being arced to the overhead power lines (everyone looked up to see exactly where the power lines were at this point….just to make sure), the Holy Cross reply began.
ReplyDeleteOpeners Nevin and Din looked comfortable enough, until Nevin lost his wicket to the innocuous looking, but effective, opening bowler. Peddie joined Din at the crease, and the reply started to gain momentum. (It must be mentioned at this point, that James Bailey was due to appear at this point in the order. However, a hand injury in the field – as he bravely attempted to stop a fully middled square cut – meant that he was batting down the order at his own request…..this was to become rather important as we found out)
Din was crafting a patient and steady innings, while Peddie was timing the ball to all fields. Disaster struck however, when a closely called single became a very well taken run out, and Hamish Peddie was found a little short of his ground. This brought Geddes to the wicket…with damage in mind. Geddes got off the mark with a trademark Forehand wallop over the bowlers head, before the characteristic Holy Cross Comedy Running came into play. Benny Hill didn’t have a look in with Din and Geddes at the crease, with new running calls being invented on the spot, by Mr Geddes, including the one “Scheissen” at full volume, which was immediately followed by “Yes, No, Yes..Dammit, No”. I had the pleasure of umpiring for three straight deliveries with Benny Hill moments, the third one being the eventual run out of Mr Geddes.
The match was beginning to swing the way of West Lothian as Mahmood Dins patient innings ended with an LBW, and next bat Richard Ellis fell to one of the more bizarre deliveries of the season. Leaping off a length, Richard fended the ball almost off his chin, and bottom edged it onto his own stumps. This brought the skipper to the crease, and after a fairly slow start, the partnership between Paul Bailey and Crawford Mackay moved the game back towards Holy Cross. After a typically violent innings by Mackay was ended on 40 by being bowled (included a powerful lofted cover drive…..honestly!!!), the injured James Bailey came to the crease.
The 6th Wicket Partnership of 82 by Mackay and P Bailey had taken Holy Cross to within 29 runs of victory. It was going to be tight as it appeared James was having problems scoring and was playing out deliveries for Paul to do the scoring. With 12 runs required from 12 balls, and James to face, it looked like the game was going to the wire………
That was until James proceeded to drive the first ball cleanly back over the bowlers head for four. The second ball was short, and was dispatched to the mid wicket boundary for four. After a beautifully played forward defensive, James ended the match abruptly by swatting the next delivery, a full toss, for a third boundary…..Holy Cross Win!
James ending a slow starting innings with the decisive runs needed for victory, with Paul setting the stage for the win with an unbeaten 55, which included a pre-meditated “Crush” of a short delivery outside off stump for six over mid wicket.
Holy Cross 172 for 6 off 43.4 overs
Mike Nevin – Bowled for 5
Mahmood Din – LBW for 14
Hamish Peddie – Run Out for 23
Keith Geddes – Run Out for 6
Paul Bailey – NOT OUT 55
Richard Ellis – Bowled for 2
Crawford Mackay – Bowled for 40
James Bailey – NOT OUT 14
Qasim Malik – D.N.B
Ken Lawrie – D.N.B
Alan Matthews – D.N.B (But again, scored the ‘cross book beautifully)
Very very well done guys, and a victory we have been waiting on. One we’ve deserved based on our play so far this year, great job!!!
Cheers,
Crawford.
4th match Dunbar Blow Away Brave Cross 3rd XI (Literally)
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
Holy Cross 3rd XI, fresh from their victory against West Lothian and full of confidence, travelled out to Dunbar in what was always going to be a tough match. Dunbar play very well at home, and have had a couple of large scores in succession against cross out there.
Always an interesting ground to visit, and always interesting weather (Hailstones and Lightning last time we were there). Two large Wind Turbines grace one boundary of the field, making a windy day sound like being attacked by a pair of fairly large helicopters. We visited on the day that the wind decided to blow very nicely indeed.
After winning the toss, the confident ‘cross skipper invited Dunbar to get their pads on and do their best with the ferocious ‘cross bowling attack. Right at the off, Cross were indeed on the attack with a head high (if you happened to be Shaquille O’Neal) beamer from Matthews….obviously, having sensed the fear, Matthews followed that with another one with the first ball of the next over. The Dunbar batsmen fearing a trend decided to look at Sulaiman to score off, but could find nothing there either. Excellent opening spells (Matthews bowling right through again) restricted Dunbar to a modest total of around 60 odd for 3 by the half way stage. Matthews removing the number two batsman with a rare straight one, hitting middle and off, and Sharpe (coming on to spell Malik) also taking a wicket with a beautifully shaped away swinger starting outside Leg, and beating the outside edge to hit middle and leg. A run out followed caused by some excellent cross pressure and throw from Peach into the bowler Sharpe, who “Expertly” guided the ball onto the bails.
This brought their number five batsman, Greco, to the crease. It was at this point that things started to go, well….pear shaped a touch. Geddes, who had come on for Matthews, and was bowling well upto this point, bowled a delivery to Greco that wasn’t all that short of a length, but was absolutely crushed for a six through the rugby posts (for a conversion, I might add) down at long off. Unperturbed by this show of power, Geddes invited the batsman to “Try that one again” in his next over. Greco kindly obliged, giving Keith the kind of thrashing that he only dreams about. (It does have to be said, however, that Keith very nearly removed him with one of his “Ohhhhhh REFEREE!!!” deliveries that missed his off stump by about a centimetre.)
Bowling changed did little to stop Greco, who mercilessly smashed cross bowling all over the ground. Qasim Malik, did however pick up his first wicket of the season when the number 4 batsman (who had built a patient innings) mistimed a pull to the waiting Andy Quinn. He would have had his first wicket an over before that, had his skipper (who, to be quite honest, kept wicket like he was wearing handcuffs) not pulled a Geraint Jones by dropping a steepling catch (it went a VERY long way up, so I had a long time to think about what swear words I could use when I dropped it) that was getting blown about a bit in the wind. Having dropped that one, Mackay blistered the air with some choice phrases (that no one heard thanks to the wonder of the Wind Turbines making it sound like Airwolf had landed in the neighbouring field). Apologies again on dropping that Qasim.
Greco was now joined at the crease by the talented left hander, Cheetham, who was no less ecstatic to see the Holy Cross bowlers. The two pummelled their way through the bowling, before Greco finally fell to the returning Malik on 93 trying to guide the ball to 3rd Man, and top edging to Andy Quinn.
An excellent batting performance (as always at home) by Dunbar saw them to around 260 for 5(?) at the close of the innings. (I do have to emphasise here though, that it is a very small ground, so scores of 260 are actually worth around probably 170 on other tracks)
Part two of the Dunbar game
ReplyDelete...After another excellent tea, Cross started their reply in earnest, with Din opening the batting with Sulaiman. The reply started well, with Din and Malik looking very comfortable indeed, until a very nice delivery from Cheetham did for Malik, although there were questions from the batsman as to the ball taking the pad rather than the bat, Malik was caught behind. Quinn and Geddes (Golden) both came, saw, and capitulated, before the arrival of James Bailey, who took the attack back to Dunbar.
Din was then retired on a ball that was middled to the boundary (and would have been six) but was unfortunate enough to pick out the one fielder there, and James Bailey succumbed soon after, again another good performance from Bailey Jnr. This placed the match turning partnership of Paul Bailey and “Geraint” Mackay at the crease, with thoughts of repeating the performance…..but it wasn’t to be. The skipper was unable to find his usual level of spine-twisting batting with the howling wind, and Bailey was also finding the conditions difficult and was never really able to get going. Bailey fell trying to play to the short boundary, Mackay soon after trying the same thing.
Qasim Malik was showing some promise with the bat, giving a glimpse of the power he has, but was unlucky enough to pick out a fielder each time he made good hard contact, and eventually got one in the air to a fielder, and was caught. Sharpe went the way of the Geddes (although he did face a second delivery), leaving Peach and Matthews at the crease.
DRAMA…..
The skipper, in the middle of packing his pads into his bag managed to miss this but….Alan Matthews scores his first boundary for Holy Cross.
Matthews (I’m led to believe) charged down the pitch at the oncoming bowler, and, spotting it was a full toss, gracefully glanced it off the pads for a four down to backward square leg. He was removed shortly after on 7, after (in his own words) getting to close to double figures and being worried about getting a nosebleed from the high score.
Matthews did, however, manage to secure an extra point for Cross by getting us to 110 runs. Holy Cross bowled out for 110.
As I promised, I said I wouldn’t mention Derek Peach’s bowling….ooops….err…Derek bowled, umm….”Diplomatically” in difficult conditions. J
It has to be said that, for Holy Cross anyway (Dunbar are a little more used to the noise and wind) that it was very tough conditions to play in, and at one point, having had some rain, the ball was like a small ball of soap, so all credit to bowlers, fielders and batsmen on doing a great job under tough conditions. Holy Cross don’t get to see the kind of wind that we saw out there in Dunbar…..well, except in these Match Reports anyway.
I also have to make the point that, if you’re going to get soundly thumped by a team, it’s better to get thumped by a bunch of good players, and good sports, and Dunbar are most certainly that. By far, one of the nicer teams to play….good guys all round.
The club mood is also possibly lifted by the news that both Cramond 1st’s and 2nd’s got soundly pumped
Finally, the Man of the Match award (sponsored by the Wind Energy Commission) goes to Mahmood Din for his patient effort opening the batting.
Cheers Guys,
Crawford.
5th match
ReplyDeleteCASK & BARREL June 7
3rds Make Cask & Barrel Spring A Leak
A report from Alan Matthews
Team Effort Guides Cross Home
The 3rds saw off Cask and Barrel with a fine all-round effort at The Meadows on Saturday. Winning the toss, skipper Mackay decided to put Cask in on a wicket of variable quality and even more variable bounce. Cross¹s opening attack was a fine mixture of youth, in the form of Hamish Peddie, and maturity, in the form of the recovering-from-injury Gerry Lohan, and they kept the Cask openers on a tight rein, doing their best to concentrate on the game despite the relentness noise from the Meadows fairground at one end, Gerry¹s incredible barking dog Nellie at the other, and clueless Joe Public wandering across the outfield at regular intervals.
The pressure soon told with Peddie striking to dismiss one of the openers LBW and Lohan forcing a false shot from their number 3 to have him well caught by Ken Lawrie square on the offside.
Peddie, after a fine spell of 5 overs in which he caused both batsmen problems, was replaced at the Fairground End by former skip Keith Geddes, while Lohan continued the attack from the Barking Dog End and soon had the Cask number 4 edging behind to keeper Mackay to leave the visitors in trouble at 37-3. Cask skipper Dougie Kerr continued to accumulate runs without ever looking comfortable, and was lucky to survive several streaky shots through the gully and slip area off Geddes. Lohan kept up the pressure throughout his spell and finished with excellent figures of 9-2-15-2.
Matthews replaced Lohan at the, by now, Quiet Dog End, and disappointed regular 3rd XI report readers by not delivering his customary first ball head-high beamer, while Derek Peach replaced Geddes (5-1-16-0) at the Dodgem Cars End. Both batsmen now aimed to accelerate the scoring rate, but excellent fielding by the whole Cross team, in particular Peddie and Lawrie, and tight bowling continued to frustrate the batsmen, and Matthews soon had the Cask number 5 skying a catch to Peddie at midwicket (Cask 63-4). This brought the big-hitting Porter to the crease and he and Kerr moved the score onto 87 before Kerr missed a straight one from Matthews and was bowled for 35. Porter¹s hitting forced the field back for a time and he and Turner took the score to 115 before Peach deservedly bowled Turner.
Dave Sharpe had by now replaced Matthews (9-2-32-2) and Sharpe almost immediately dismissed the Cask number 8 courtesy of a fine catch by Paul Bailey (116-7). Peach finished his spell with tidy figures of 9-1-31-1 but had to leave the field having suffered an injury attempting a difficult return catch, to be replaced by the excellent substitute fielder Osman Malik. Peddie took over from Peach and with the score on 123 tempted Porter into one big hit too many and he was caught at deep midwicket by Matthews for a fine 38.
Cask¹s ninth wicket put on 24 more useful runs before Sharpe took an excellent catch off Peddie to dismiss number 10 Shaikh, and Peddie finished an outstanding spell by bowling the Cask number 11 for a duck, finishing with figures of 8-1-27-4. Sharpe¹s final figures were 4-0-18-1
(part 2 on next post)
Cask Part two HX batting
ReplyDeleteA total of 148 was certainly surmountable but was unlikely to be easy given the state of the pitch. Cross made a steady start, with Paul Bailey punishing some wayward bowling from Metcalf, and Ken Lawrie wielding his trusty forward defensive against Cask¹s other opening bowler Bain who was getting significant inswing and movement off the pitch. However Lawrie¹s trusty defence for once failed him and he was first out, bowled by Bain without scoring. This brought James Bailey to the crease and the father and son partnership once again excelled for Cross, taking the score smoothly onto 54 before James was out for 14, caught off the impressive Bain. This brought Geddes to the crease [Keith had to leave early for a concert] and he contributed a couple of lusty blows before unluckily playing on to Turner for 6. Peddie and Paul Bailey then took the score to 74, with Peddie once again playing some impressive shots, but he was soon out to Turner for 7, leaving Cross in a certain amount of trouble at 74-4.
However this brought captain Crawford Mackay to the crease and he and Bailey batted sensibly taking the score to 115, with Bailey passing 50 off 88 balls, punishing anything short with some fine pulls and cuts. Bailey was eventually out for 73, having seen Cross ¾ of the way to victory. Fazal Malik then came to the crease and kept the scoring rate ahead of the requirement, striking several lofty blows before being bowled by Taylor for 10, bringing the score to 129-6. Twenty runs needed from the last 6 overs, and Dave Sharpe and Mackay saw us home with a mixture of level-headed defence and some fine striking, Mackay finishing with 21 not out.
An excellent all-round bowling, batting and fielding performance where everyone made a contribution, and an enjoyable game on a sunny day against sporting opposition.
Crosstastic !