Yet again at 1pm, the Cross were a few men short as Spickers in his trusty Millennium Falcon had taken a wrong turn at the Dagobah System and was running late! As it turned out Accies were as short as an Ewok and only managed to field 9 players!
Ok enough with the Star Wars innuendo..
As skip, with the toss won I had little hesitation and elected to bowl first. As even though the pitch had been covered, there was a decent sized damp patch on a good length just outside off to a right handed batsman.
Chewie AKA Bonners opened up down wind. The additional pace and rhythm he found saw a superb opening spell conceding just 7 runs off his opening 6 overs. Yet again like last season, the one before that and one before that, he was just too good to catch an edge. Both batsmen were bamboozled on a regular basis, which were greeted with a range of guttural animalistic growls from the bowler and behind the wicket. If only Bonners could use my philosophy and bowl the occasional pie!
Bimbo accounted for their opener Price in his third over, LBW for an unlucky 13. Which brought to the wicket a partnership that appeared to be playing test cricket. They raced to 32-1 of 15 overs before a change in the bowling saw Javed and then McOscar accelerate Accies scoring rate. At drinks Accies were 68-1 and unfortunately there was not a hot cup of tea in sight!
Both Raja and myself managed to pick up wickets later in our spell and finished with 2-32 and 3-32 respectively.
It is worth noting, that despite a catch being hit down my throat at mid-on, CJE tried to muscle in on the action repeatedly shouting mine, mine, mine and running in my direction.
Sorry CJE, your Jedi mind tricks don’t work on this Stormtrooper!
Due to a miscalculation in overs, Arch stepped up and took the ball for the last over, only conceding 3 runs off the bat but he did bowl 3 masshoove leg-side wides. Edinburgh Accies finishing on a reasonable 157-7, especially considering they were only on 68 at drinks.
Holy Cross got off to a disastrous start with Owais departing with the second ball of the innings for just 2. Up stepped CJE to partner Raja and the two built a nice little stand taking the score to 32-1 off 8. The Cross looked well placed to chase down 158 for victory, but for a bit of a mix up where I’m sure the words ‘yes, no, oh …. sorry’ were probably uttered. Raja looking like the Titanic turning to avoid an iceberg was run out for 14.
One of last week’s heroes Jimmy came to the wicket to join his partner in crime CJE and all hope was restored. Unfortunately Jimmy hadn’t read the script and departed for a 3rd ball duck, some would say a little unlucky with the nature of his LBW decision, but as his younger brother I say harden up and stop whining!
CJE was next to fall, chasing a very wide delivery and was caught behind of what surely would have been a wide. He scored a well compiled 25, which left the Cross at 47-4 off 19.
After chipping a rather streaky straight drive between the bowler and mid-off for 4, I was next to succumb, LBW for just 8. Spickers and Arch (in his first game back) then put on a very solid 37 run partnership with some lusty blows.
At this point it’s worth mentioning Accies were now down to 8 men in the field. I’d also point out that we all took turns at hitting any loose delivery directly to a fielder!
The Accies skip then brought himself back into the attack, which proved an inspired decision. Second ball of his 6th over had Arch clean bowled for 23. Bonners then opened his account with a single off his very first delivery, which unfortunately led to Spickers being sent on his way LBW for legs 11. The Cross now 92-7 at the end of the 32nd over and a long way off 157!
Up stepped Bimbo, last year’s ‘most disappointing season’ recipient. Let’s face it, most of us thought the match was done and dusted. But to all of our amazement, with Ewok like resistance and ingenuity, Bimbo started scoring runs, hitting the odd boundary too.
Meanwhile at the other end, Bonners had settled in for an inspiring knock.
The two lads batted beautifully and added 69 for the 8th wicket to bring us home in the 46th over of the match. Bonners not out on 33 and Bimbo on 22! I might point out the game ended at about 7:30pm – despite the earlier 12noon kick off! A big thanks to Elmondt and Dan for filling in for the 1’s this weekend!
And history repeats itself with another hard fought, but somewhat Jabba the Hutt like performance!
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A true connoisseur would have pointed out the similarity between peffermill and the ice plant of Hoth......... I'll get my cloak.
ReplyDeletebut for a bit of a mix up where I’m sure the words ‘yes, no, oh …. sorry’ were probably uttered
ReplyDeletewtf, there was never a run there, that's why i said no...