HX made it through to the semi finals of the CS Challenge Cup with a win over Marchmont. As usual, Arbo had drained well and was playable after the deluge on Friday which had caused a mini-lake to form in the Ferry Road/ Arboretum Road corner. As could be expected the wicket was very soft - especially after a sharp shower that halted the match after just 4 balls.
A slight breakdown in communications/some people refusing to confirm till the last moment meant that an unprecedented 15 Crossers turned up. The 11 that were finally entered on the team sheet were the usual 'Sunday mix' of 1sts, 2nd and 3rd XI players.
Dougie was in a no-nonsense mood: Irfan & Abdul were dropped for turning up late... Then Sandy failed to impress with his fielding in the first 4 balls and was axed during the rain delay.
With most of the 'proper' 1st XI bowlers absent, HX's back-up bowlers did a decent job of keeping the ball in the right areas, aware that the soft pitch would make batting very tricky. Andy K taking a wicket with the 1st ball after the resumption - Si casually pouching the slip catch. Decent spells from the returning Andy K, Simon and cje helped keep the run-rate low before some slightly looser bowling/fielding and more enterprising batting from Gandhi and Chetty gave the Marchmont
innings some momentum and some power hitting from Van Jaarsveld (till well held by Ziggy in the deep) helped the visitors to a defendable 136.
New boy Fin opened with KF and they started solidly as Marchmont opened up with their slower bowlers. Fin got a good one from Collier and cje and KF put on a steady partnership before cje picked out the only man in the deep from a full-bunger. Simon continued his fine season with another display of fluent batting and took control of the game. He was well supported by KF and Dougie (hitting nicely over the top).
Though KF, Jon and Dougie also fell, HX completed a fairly comfortable victory.
p.s. a pair of Hunts 'Clipper' batting gloves were left in the HX changing room -they are now in the Green Room.
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ReplyDeleteI was going to call my match report "Kiwi Polish" .....
ReplyDeleteOn that topic Colin "Cherry Blossom" McGill apparently took his 450th catch for the Cross in the game.
feel free to add yours-perhaps Coco's achievement deserves a separate post..
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