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.