Cross Collapse

Vik's unique reaction to hitting a big six

League Weekend 10 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Watsonians 2nds at Myreside.
• 2nds vs Edinburgh Accies 2nds at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Edinburgh South 4ths at Liberton High School.

Midweek -

• Tuesday - friendly vs Tranent at Arbo.
• Thursday - Activcity Trophy vs Westquarter at Arbo.

Good luck to all.

Proof of Life - Rejoice, the President Lives!

Spotted in the Café Royal yesterday evening -

Masterstroke or mistake? Amjid swings 2nds to victory.

On a day when few expected any play and even fewer a complete match, the 2nds squeaked out a win against near-neighbours Edinburgh Accies on the Newfield arti.

Accies won the toss and elected to bat. With the partial exception of the stolid Pope, the batsmen went for their shots/scythes from the off and rumours spread through the Cross ranks that the they'd shortened the game to a 20:20 without telling us. Despite the best efforts of Smudge (7-0-21-2) and Gerry (9-1-18-1) and a brilliant diving, one-handed catch from Milly in the covers, Accies looked well placed at 90-odd for three when we came off for the first of several rain interruptions shortly after the 20-over mark.

But the drinks break and an inspired piece of captaincy quickly pulled the game back for the Cross, as Smudge brought Amjid into the attack. I say inspired but as Smudge had been confusing Amjid and Abdul (and Irfan, and even on one occasion Milly) all afternoon, it may just have been a cock-up. Masterstroke or mistake, it mattered not as Amjid swung both ball and match with an excellent spell (9-0-37-5), aided by an extraordinary slip catch from Gerry. With Pope finally run out for 35 by a piece of quick thinking from Ziggy, Accies collapsed to 122 all out.

After promising cameos from Irfan and Brian, our reply was built around an initially scratchy but increasingly fluent 61 from JB. When he was sixth out, bowled by the persevering and accurate (by now the ball was so wet that that was about as much as could be expected of a bowler) Loganathan (8-2-12-4), Cross still needed 20 to win and the Accies, gathering in ever more raucous post-wicket huddles, were beginning to scent victory. Nevin and Ghafoor edged, scampered and thumped us nearer to the target but it was three very wide wides that finally got us there with two wickets to spare.

Thanks to Accies for a game that was umpired fairly (both sides leant towards being generous to the bowlers) and played in excellent spirits throughout. In particular, thanks for being so willing to keep going through the rain in the second innings when, for long periods, we were well on top. We look forward to the return match at Arbo this weekend.

Aggers - Good, Bad and Ugly

Jonathan Agnew's new book, Cricket. A Modern Anthology, will be published early next month. Not coincidentally, Aggers is scheduled to speak on Memories of Cricket's Good, Bad and Ugly at the Edinburgh Book Festival on Friday 16th August at 11.30am. Following yesterday's difficulties we hope he's not travelling by train ...... #doghouse.

If you'd like a ticket, the box office (0845-373-5888) opens at 8.30 on Friday morning.

1 XI lead the way on 60 point weekend for the Cross!

The HX 1’s record a soggy but satisfying win!

Sat 22^nd June, game 1 of our home and away series vs Watsonian’s 2’s.

Bucking the trend, I lost the toss for only the 3^rd time this season in all competitions. The opposition skip elected to bat first on account that they had only pitched up with 10 men.

With Shanton running late after working in the morning, the new ball was tossed to Robin who produced a typically miserly and highly composed lesson in swing bowling for the Watsonian’s top order, finishing the day with 1 for 14 off 6 overs.

Vikram ‘who me, you want me to bowl’ Gaware took the new ball from the Ferry Rd end. He bowled extremely well, taking the first wicket of the day, a sharply held catch to Bloomfiled ah I mean Bonfield at first slip. He was a bit tired after 4 overs, so was pulled from the line up with figures of 1 for 8.

Next up was Raja. Freshly invigorated after a week away from the bowling crease, he settled into his work and from the first ball looked in for a great stint. He bowled his 10 on the trot – which was halted by the first of several rain delays after about 6 overs. Finishing with the superb figures of 4 for 13 off 10 overs, including 3 maidens.

Shanton took over bowling from the clubhouse end and in typical fashion finished with 3 for 31 off his 9 overs. He did however get hooked twice for 4’s by the Watsonian’s skip, something I’m sure he’ll not be keen to have repeated next weekend.

Watsonian’s 10 men were all out for a rather meagre total of 73 after just 29 overs. The umpire was keen to get things moving with the threat of yet more rain and the skippers agreed that Holy Cross would bat for 15 overs before tea would be taken.

CJE and Raja opened up and progressed the score to 22 without loss, before the rain came down and play was halted for an early tea after about 7 overs. Another great feast was consumed and play resumed after about 40 minutes off that park. Another several overs were bowled and the lads picked up the scoring, racing to 58 before another down pouring of rain forced the players off the park yet again.

In all credit to the Watsonian’s skipper, where I’m sure a lesser man would have easily said the outfield and pitch were not safe, he rallied his troops to get back on to the park. The Holy Cross openers knocked off the winning runs with ease, although the bowlers were struggling to hold on to the ball of soap that was the ball towards the end.

CJE was in fine form yet again, compiling 51* and was supported very well by Raja who finished with 23* taking the Cross to 20 points in just 14 overs.

A great win for the Cross, given the weather and a big thanks must be said again to the Watsonian’s skipper and players for the spirit showed in the latter parts of the game, allowing the completion of the second innings in very wet and soggy conditions.

5000 not out...

5,000 Not Out! A landmark tweet and it's about a landmark. Exciting times ahead at Arbo - Building for the future. pic.twitter.com/crNpN43QYg
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) June 23, 2013

3 wins

1sts, 2nds & 3rds all won yesterday .... the 2's and 3's in tight finishes.

The 1sts beat an understrength Watsonian 2's side at a soggy Arbo: scorecard HERE

Reports may follow....who knows

Activcity Trophy

1st round tie vs Westquarter now confirmed for Thursday 4th July at Arbo.

Caption Competition

Desperate to avoid a run of three successive of ducks I turned to legendary Holy Cross spanksman CJ Ellis for advice ahead of Tuesday nights friendly vs Edinburgh South.

His advice worked (largely because as soon as I ignored it I got out), the dreaded hat-trick was avoided and a reputable 36 scored.

There is a jug for anyone who can guess what his advice was (hint - it was less technical more mental approach) and a pint for the best response (either comical or useful).

League Weekend 9 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Watsonians 2nds, at Arbo.
• 2nds vs Edinburgh Accies 2nds, away at Newfield.
• 3rds vs Edinburgh South 3rds, home at Campbell Park.

Midweek -

• Tuesday, McGill's Midweekers vs Currie Balerno at Arbo.

Good luck to all.

Another win for the 3s - Andy G reports (belatedly!) from Craiglockhart

3^rd XI match report v Watsonians 4s

 

We pitched up to Craiglockhart with 10 at the toss. Amjid went to Campbell Park with tea for two so he was late (but we had a nice tuna sandwich when he arrived) – had to win the toss and bat with this pitch and only 1 opening bowler!

 

We won the toss. Tim had an amazing coin to toss with as well. A 1999 Isle of Man £1 coin with this symbol on the back. I have since tried to bid for one on ebay but it went for £5.50 + £1.50 postage and packaging my max bid was £5, just missed out. Excellent find by Mr Bunker.

 

 

Anyway we started to bat Mike Nevin and Irfan Butt got us off to an incredible start a 100 run partnership off 20 overs before Mike got out for 40 and Irfan 53. That brought in comedy running duo of myself and Butchy.

 

After a quick chin wag in the middle of the crease and Butchy saying “I don’t run that quickly” I paused after hitting one to backward point and by that time Butchy was half way down the wicket! I forgot that these 2s guys backed up … so I was run out but not to worry we had a very long tail.

 

This brought the 50 man in at 5. Ross had stuck by the rule that you have to play hungover in order to score runs so went out on Friday to a pub quiz and got suitably oiled.

 

New rule for the 3s is based on the following evidence.

 

At the start of the season before Preston Village I got very drunk at the end of season hockey night out scored 44*. Three weeks ago v Morton I got drunk with work on the Friday night and scored 52. Then two weeks ago the night before Largo, Mark discovered Aussie rum 'Bundy' in an Edinburgh bar and scored 114. I got hammered last week before getting 156* and so did Parker to get 53.

 

Also during this time when I got 156* Mark got 2 – that’s because he took it easy at the cricket on the Friday night because we had cricket the next day. Also this Friday I took it easy and went to the cinema cause I had been drunk too many Fridays in a row. Stupid mistake.

 

I can only assume that Mike Nevin was wallpaper hanging when he scored his ton and his fifty. I also assume that Coco has had a few bottles of wine on Friday nights too and that’s why he’s the league’s top wicket taker.

 

Anyway back to the cricket. Parker and Amjid came in and with a 79 run partnership and some interesting shots they got the run rate up and we were on course to getting over 200.

Amjid finished with 31 before going for another big shot and missing.

 

Norrie came back to the fold and got 2 runs – but nearly ran parker out! If it wasn’t for him Parker wouldn’t have got his 50 though!!

 

We finished on 326 – 6. Good effort but we needed to be careful as Watsonians were near the top of the batting league.

 

Bowling we started very well Amjid going for only 14 runs off his 8 overs. Norrie also opened and after 4 overs got a bit tired so asked to be pulled off (erm, that's a bit too much information - did anyone oblige though?! - Ed). But this tight opening bowling the batsmen tried to go for it and run a silly single to Irfan who ran their no.1 out - big wicket number one.

 

We then brought Abdul on however, a couple of short balls and Watsonians looked like they were coming right back into it.

 

So I released the pace … we kept the two lions caged up for the majority of the match and only gave them half an egg sandwich at tea. They were angry and ready to go …

 

The first four overs of the pace didn’t go well. The young lad and no.2 batsmen were in fine form smashing the ball all over the park … oh the pace wasn’t working.

 

But then it clicked! Coco took a wicket then Richard.... 6 wickets and 88 runs later we were well on top!

 

Watsonians got an excellent total of 192 all out in the last over but we were comfortable after Coco and Richard took some very important wickets.

 

We all piled back to Myreside to drink Watsonians’ beer and eat their nuts. Then to the Green Room where Parker and I stayed before getting chucked out at the outrageous hour of 10pm.

 

On Saturday we found out one important fact.

 

In order to bat to the best of our abilities we need to be hungover.

 

Big night out on Friday night - Bundy rum and Deuchars on tap.

1st XI batting reaches rock bottom

The highs and lows of a Holy Cross Saturday....

The 1sts went down at home to St Boswells whilst the 3rds bandwagon kept on rolling with a win away at Watsonians 4s.

At Arbo, the weather was as grim as the outcome as St Boswells went from a 14-0  after 11 overs & 52-0 at the end of 20, to record 233-5 at the end of their allotted 50 overs.  Pick of the batsmen were S Ruthven 114, Broom 31 and Paterson 28*.  CJ Ellis the pick of the bowlers, getting 2-28 from his spell.

Tea was had - and a mighty feast it was too - then back out to attempt to play as the sky looked angry and the cold front kicked in.

Spickers and Raja both fell early and when the rain came down heavy enough  for the umpires to taken the players off the field, Cross were 12-2.  St Boswells starting to reign in the rain.

Sunshine tried to make an appearance and we even got a mahoosive rainbow however there was to be no pot of gold at the end of it as Millington, Bimbo and Robin went within the space of one tweet!

A disappointing final total of 152 to show for the team's collective efforts which, on another day (maybe not as cold and wet!), may have been rewarded with a tighter margin of defeat and a few more points.  C'est la vie, as they say.

Photos from the game can be found on Broonster's Facebook page

Meanwhile, the 3's continued their mini-revival with another win, this time at Craiglockhart against Watsonians 4s.

At the end of the 25th over, the 3s had reached 126-3 and when Parker hit the ball high and handsome over the ropes, his 6 saw the side reach 1,000 runs in just 4 weeks.

236-6 was the closing total at tea, with Parker 53*, Nevin 40, Irfan 53,  Amjid 31.

In reply, Watsonians made a tremendous game of it, reaching 192 All Out. Top figures from the bowling side of things from Coco 2-31 & Ellis Snr 3-23.

Full match reports no doubt likely over the weekend from the usual suspects.

Saturday 15th - 2nds OFF

Musselburgh 2nds unable to raise a team.

League Weekend 8 and the Week Ahead

This weekend's fixtures -

• Saturday, 1sts vs St Boswells at Arbo.
• Saturday, 2nds vs Musselburgh 2nds, away at Lewisvale Park, Musselburgh.
• Saturday, 3rds vs Watsonians 4ths, away at Craiglockhart.
• Sunday, CS Challenge Cup QF vs Irvine at Arbo.

Midweek -

• Tuesday, McGill's Midweek Men vs Edinburgh South at Arbo.

Good luck to all.

Arbominable - 2s Lose

The last time we played South 2nds it was the first game of the 2012 season. On a grey, blustery, dank April day the two sides managed a collective 119 for 18 in 56 overs on a classic sticky dog and we squeaked home by two wickets largely thanks to an excellent 23 not out from Robin.

Surely it would all be very different just over a year on? Certainly the weather was a great improvement and the pitch so straw-coloured and hard that Gus McLean was positively purring about the state of our "surfaces" before the game.

We lost the toss and were inserted and for a while at least it went quite well as Brian and Irfan obeyed the first rule of any game against any side containing Gus - "See him off" (he'd had us 0 for 3 the year before) - and we reached 30-odd for 1. But we hadn't reckoned on Tiwari who bowled an excellent full length with some late swing to rip the heart out of the innings. Two or three of us, myself included, will need to reflect on rash shots, but Tiwari's figures (9-2-22-6) didn't flatter him much and he was ably supported by Kenning (4-3-8-2). 75 all out.

After a generous tea (for which South seemed strangely reluctant to join us inside), the second half was at least better than the first and we made the opposition wait 33 overs for victory. Vikram was at his frustrating/frustrated best (9-5-9-0), bowling brilliantly but unable to get a wicket. Smudge led from the front, taking five South wickets for the second year running and at 40-4 we thought we had a sniff.

But an attacking cameo from Welsh (20), a stolid innings from Rupani who carried his bat for 19 and a clumping 28 from Johnson (who didn't bother with a box until Vik came back on) saw South home, with 6 down.

Grey, blustery Arbo, April 2012: 119 for 18 in 56 overs and Robin bats HX to victory. Bright, sunny Arbo 2013: 153 for 16 in 62 overs and Robin bats HX to victory. Unfortunately this time the Worsnop heroics were at Leith Academy as the 1sts edged out MUFS.

Thanks to South for a game played in excellent spirits throughout. We look forward to the return.

1st’s squeak a win vs MDAFS!

Saturday 8^th June vs MDAFS

After not being able to bring myself to write about our double header weekend 2 weekends ago, when we dropped both games with woeful batting displays, it’s great to be back in a winning way.

With yet another toss won, there was absolutely no doubt that we should bowl first at Leith Academy, on what can only be described as a strip that made Campbell Park look like Lords. Plenty of green grass, undulations and weeds made it look like a bowlers paradise, which it was!

Yet again we started with only 10 men on the field with CJE running late.

The dynamic duo of Shannon and Robin opened up with another brilliant spell of controlled bowling, seeing the MDAFS top 4 struggle to get off the mark. Robin bowled his 10 overs on the trot and finished with 2-24, including an LBW that took the top off a poor weed and saw the ball barely bounce off the ground.

Bonfield took 2 wickets in consecutive balls, including the MDAFS number 4, who didn’t offer a shot and was bowled middle and off! MDAFS were in real strife early on with the 4 quick wickets, but Zarkoob and Akerkar set about rebuilding the innings and made it through to drinks with the total at about 60odd for 4.

More sloppy fielding cost us dearly again this week with a number of regulation catches being put down, in particular Akerkar being dropped when he was only on around 15. He eventually fell for a very patient and well complied 50, when GT managed to cut one back that also didn’t bounce.

The MDAFS lower order benefited from playing their shots and got away on us a bit, with the 10^th wicket falling in the 50^th over with the score at 145. Which given the nature of the wicket, that was a very competitive total.

Time to redress the demons in our closet and have the top order bat us to an important victory.

What transpired was pretty much the exact opposite. Outside of an impressive knock of 66 from Charlie and another powerful 36 from Raja, 4 of the top 6 didn’t even trouble the scorers. In total we recorded 6 ducks, including a first baller for Tom Jordan that sent a horribly out of touch Skip in to face the hat-trick ball, which I somehow managed to keep out.

GT felt rather aggrieved with his LBW decision, feeling confident that he got an inside edge, but with no DRS in ESCA Div 1 he had to depart. That left us 8 down still with about 45 to get and Charlie looking very comfortable. Up stepped Milly who hasn’t had a lot of cricket this season and he set about supporting Charlie nicely.

In came Yelland the MDAFS skip for the day and early in his first or second over, he hit the same weed that Robin struck (to get his second LBW), which saw the ball cannon into the bottom of Charlie’s off-stump, out for a magnificent 66.

9 down with 23 required.

Robin and Milly looked like they were batting on a completely different pitch and hit the bad balls away for runs, kept out the good ones and a few bad ones! Edging ever closer to the mystical total of 146. Both lads plundered boundaries and had a few big LBW appeals turned down, the tension was immense.

Robin tucked the final ball of the 35^th over around the corner and scurried back for the second to seal a truly remarkable victory, where the final wicket partnership added 23* to put 20 points in the bag.

Milly finishing with 16* (the 3^rd highest score of the day) and Robin on 11* (5^th highest behind Milly and E.X. TRA’s on 13).

Jordan's big hits on show as McGill's Midweekers maul Maccabi

McGill's Midweekers took on Maccabi at an overcast, but surprisingly dry enough Arbo for this annual clash.

The Cross batted first with impressive displays from Jordan (36), Butt (28), Graham (26) and Gaware (24).  An interesting stat for Vikram's 24 - they all came in the same over off Amjed's bowling.  He was unsurprisingly happy about this:

McMonagle pushed out a score of 12 not out, including a single which saw him dive across the Fortress Arbo square to save his wicket.

At the end of the agreed 18 over stint, McGill's mob had reached an impressive 144-5.

A quick turnaround saw Maccabi back to the crease, keen to make a start at chasing a healthy home total.

Marsh bowled a wide from the opening delivery of the innings however this proved to be the only blot on his copybook as he went on to take the scalp of opener Naeem with the final ball of the over.

Jabar came, Jabar went.  Another duck - this time Shahzad teasing the batsman into tickling the delivery to Jordan behind the stumps. The tourists were 2-2....

Raja tried to stem the flow of wickets and put on a credible 16 before Shahzad's slower and more deliberate delivery caught the big man in three minds before knocking the ball back to where it came from and into the hands of the young lad. 25-3.

Irfan tried valiantly to save the day, however his 26 could only add to a total of 95-7.  A win for McGill's Midweekers!  He was smiling inside....

Well done to all - and to Brian Fraser who, bedecked in demins, decided to stand around in the field and also bat for the opposition. 

Broonster's pics from the evening can be found online here

You can fill in the gaps above from the live commentary via our Twitter Feed

Fife flyers - Cross 3's in Glenrothes gallup!

The 3's went across the water for their latest ESCA Division 9 away day. Andy Graham recaps on the day's events:

 

Glenrothes’ new pitch looks like it’ll turn into a very nice place to play cricket. With enough space for a main and second square and a pavilion it will rival Arbo in the best new development of 2014.

 

We won the toss and decided to bat – it was a very nice day and there were some mumblings of us not being able to last 40 overs in the field – especially after the previous night’s escapades, which included throwing ice at JK Rowling, watching Scotland get demolished and enjoy a 1am game of human Jenga on a very tired captain:

 

 

Mike Nevin and Ken opened getting us off to a very good start 38 off 9 for one. Mike getting out LBW to Glenrothes’ best bowler Snook. Ken and I shot us up to 70ish before Ken released the centurion. Cruickshank came to the crease and with the agenda of running lots of quick singles and keeping the run rate high. He got out for two after stepping square in front of his stumps to get out LBW. He seemed annoyed but I don’t actually think he knows where the stumps are – he always does outrageous LBW shouts from behind the stumps!

 

Parker came in at 5 and spanked their young spin bowler for three 4s in his first over. Ross and I really got stuck in with some fast running, big hawicks across the line and some ‘’stupid’’ singles! I reached my 50 hitting a 2 to the offside – I know very rare. Parker reached his 50 off just 33ish balls.

 

After reaching about 80 I could see Amjid was pretty keen for us to crack on – I noted this and hit three 4s in a row and asked him if that was ok? I think it was.

 

I then somehow managed to reach 100 – more smacks down leg more blocks on middle stump. Not a bad wee innings.

 

Unfortunately Parker then played a shot straight down gully’s throat and the partnership was over. 55 off 37 balls. Partnership of 157 off 18 oversish.

 

Amjid then came to the crease and after hitting a couple of nice shots was bowled by Snook. This brought in Richard, he played the shot of the day a back foot drive through extra cover that Charlie would have been proud of.

 

Unfortunately no-one else got a bat. Not without trying! After I hit 100 I scooped one to mid-on, swung and missed at about 20 and regularly swung across the line with the ball coming to middle stump.

 

I finished on 156 not out and Richard 9 not out.

 

Excellent teas! They were brought by two young ladies who were very nice. Great break from the heat.

 

We went out to bowl. Amjid started by bowling his first 5 overs at medium pace. This was until their captain and best batsman spanked him for 12 off an over then he decided that he better be slightly quicker and bowled him in the 7^th over.

 

Matt Henton opened from the other end and apart from his first 2 overs was extremely good beating the bat on several occasions and get a ‘wicket’.

 

Usama then replaced Amjid after his 8 overs and bowled two overs from the top end taking one wicket and going for 1 run!

 

Coco bowled four overs from the bottom end taking two more wickets for 8.

Another cracking weekend for the 3s and we expect to do the same again this week against Watsons which could be a very tough fixture. Due to unprecedented Cross availability we could have a very, very strong side out for it!

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words!

MDAFS 1st XI 146ao
HX 1st XI 147-9

League Weekend 7 and the Week Ahead

Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Murrayfield-DAFS, away at Leith Academy.
• 2nds vs Edinburgh South 2nds, at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Glenrothes 4ths, away at Gilvenbank Park, Pitcoudie.

There is a barbecue at Arbo in the evening after the games and the rugby club have kindly asked us to join them. Buns, salad and sauces provided, so bring some meat/meat substitute!

Two midweek games -

• Tuesday 11th June, friendly vs Maccabi at Arbo.
• Thursday 13th June, Presidents Plate tie (2nds and 3rds only) vs City of Edinburgh Council at Arbo.

Good luck to all.

2s go 2 and 2

Smudge won the toss for the fourth time this season and surprised us all by opting to bat, possibly the first time he's ever done this voluntarily.

A slightly wayward first over from Wilcock brought nine runs, mostly in extras. But then Wilcock (9-1-17-1) and ex-Muffer Ian Martin (9-1-28-1) bowled excellent, tight spells and the runs dried up.  Bates (19) and Welsh (28) upped the pace, but Faisal Anwar seemed to be putting Livi on top as his well-flighted off-spin accounted for Jon and Dan as well as Candlish and Buchanan.

Fazzy's dismissal left both batsman (embarrassed) and bowler (injured) rolling on the floor and gave a clue that Livi might be nine overs short with both Anwar (9-1-28-4) and Balasubramanian finishing their spells despite leg injuries. Butt (33 largely from wristy cuts) and Ghafoor (17 largely from legside clumps) rebuilt the HX innings, but when Abdul fell to the first ball of the 39th over, we were in danger of falling short of a really good total.

In their very different ways the occasional bowlers Lancaster (2.5-1-3-1) and Ghaffar (4-0-30-3) did fine jobs for their team, but Andy Killey (27) pushed the score on and we finished on 185 with a ball to spare.

With runs on the board, the skipper attacked from the outset and a combination of some waywardness, some good fortune and some fine shots had Livi in a good position after the first dozen or so overs with Wilcock (28) and Lancaster (62) looking increasingly assured.

But the introduction of Lohan (9-0-20-3) and Smith (9-1-30-0) turned the game as the run rate fell and wickets began to follow, aided by some sound catching. Ghafoor (8-1-17-2) bowled a skilful spell and Livi's last hope went when Welsh (4-2-9-3) removed Lancaster with a quicker one.

A good win that opens up a decent gap to the bottom three. Thanks to Livi for a game played in excellent spirits throughout and which was more competitive than the margin of victory suggests, especially before Irfan and Abdul came together and when Lancaster and Wilcock were batting.

1st XI report (Carlton II's vs HX 1sts)