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!