1 XI get batted again!

Grange 2 v Holy Cross

20 July 2013, at Fettes College

As the first Crosser to arrive at the ground I was met with the sight of the majority of the Grange team warming up for the match by either partaking in a vigorous game of football or striking some breakdancing poses.  An early indication perhaps that this was to be a contest between two teams with contrasting styles and fitness/mobility levels….

In the corresponding fixture from the first half of the season the Cross had been well beaten by Grange 2, with only a knock of 99 from Raja giving the scores a look of any respectability.  A review of the team-sheets from that game indicates that the opposition fielded a team with 7 changes from the first fixture.  However, strength in depth seems not to be an issue and the two Grange teams we have faced this year are likely to be the two best teams we will face.

Holy Cross were invited to have a bowl first and with almost a complete team ready for 13:00 hrs we took to the field in glorious sunshine.  Shannon and Raja got us started, both bowling good opening spells, with Shannon in particular beating the bat on a number of occasions.  However, the first wicket didn’t arrive until first change with Dom taking, I believe, his debut league wicket for the 1s with a classic left-armers’s delivery getting an edge that was comfortably taken at slip by Bonners.  Dom and GT bowled the next 10 overs or so with the batsmen generally on top and ticking along at about 7 an over.

A change was required, with Dougie and Charlie brought into the attack.  As has been the case for much of the season, both bowlers bowled tidy spells with the pace being taken off the ball resulting in a reduction in the run rate.  It was still tough work in the field though with all Grange batsmen being able to hit a powerful ball.  Nevertheless, Dougie picked up the wicket of the Grange no.3 for 52 (caught Owais), and Charlie the wicket of Pillai for 83 caught at deep long-off by GT.   At the second drinks break Grange were around 210 for 3 wickets off 34 overs.

Shannon and Raja returned to the fray to bowl the final 10 over stretch and despite 2 more wickets falling, both to Shannon (caught CJE and Spickers), the momentum stayed with the home side and they finished their allotted 50 on 315 for 5 wickets.  Undoubtedly a big total, but not one that disgraced us given the quality of the batting and an expansive out-field on one side.  Tom J in particular threw himself around with purpose making a number of good stops.

A fine spread awaited both sides, with strawberries and ice cream the undoubted highlight.

The Crossers reply got off to a bad start - CJE heading for the showers after 3 deliveries for 1 run, after an impressive piece of aggressive fast bowling from T. Sole.  Shannon joined Raja, using the pace of the ball and calmly caressing the next two deliveries over the rope for four.  Some lusty blowing from Raja followed and at an early stage the Cross were right up there with the run rate. 

However, Raja was out for 38 having not quite connected with one, and despite Owais joining Shannon and a fine partnership of close to 100 being put together the required run rate started to increase.   At the second drinks break (34 overs) the run chase already looked a forlorn one. 

Shannon departed for a well-constructed 63 bringing to the crease Andrew Robertson who batted very nicely for 30 before being last man out.  In between times Owais  was stumped for a good 42, Nawaz and Tom didn’t trouble the scorers and Dougie was run out for 1 after an excellent piece of fielding from the opposition skipper. Si Pickering had joined Andrew and elegantly hit across the line for a fairly rapid 23 that helped us across the 200-run mark for only perhaps the third time this season.  The innings closed with Cross well short of the target at 210 for 8.

After two losses on the trot, the Crossers will be looking forward to trying to get back to winning ways this weekend with the visit of Dunfermline to Arboretum Playing Fields.