Julius Caes-es the Moment, Almost a Centurion - 2nds Win Again

(Et tu) Brute force - Julius scores VI.

It was groundhog day on Saturday as the 2nds played Edinburgh Accies 2nds for the second weekend running. Once again the Accies batted first and set off quickly. Once again they looked in command at the drinks break in the first innings. And once again we overhauled them to win in the end.

But in truth there was a lot more that was different, starting with the teams. The HX selection committee had axed the previous week's bowling hero Amjid for only taking five wickets and every week's bowling hero Gerry for conceding two runs an over and taking a brilliant catch. Instead of the veterans we had a (relatively) youthful hotshot pace(y) quartet of Newman, Marsh, Killey and Welsh.

They bowled well, but unfortunately the catching, so good last week, was another thing that had changed as we put down three or four chances and failed even to go for two further ones (I was involved both times). Even the catches we did take were dicey - twice fielders collided. At this stage it seemed only too fitting that out on Arboretum Road a bloke was slowly changing into a Mickey Mouse costume out of the back of his Range Rover.

I've suggested that the opposition's batting hadn't changed over the week, but that isn't really fair. It was similarly attaccie but a good deal less haccie. Captain Sehgal (40) unleashed some big hits down the ground and Colam (52) played really well, particularly through the covers, until being told that he only needed three for his 50. He immediately announced that he was now jinxed and would be out next ball and proceeded to pull a Smudger long-hop tamely down square leg's throat. Somehow by the time he reached the boundary his score had risen to 52 - counting isn't the Accies' strongest point - but he deserved it.

With 5 down for a little over 120 and a number of youngsters sitting on the Arbo benches waiting for a bat, we had some hopes that Accies would collapse again. But we hadn't reckoned with Irshid (29) and the late-arriving-thought-he was-just-spectating Ramsay senior (25*) who mixed aggression and stoicism (mostly Irshid who was hit several times) to good effect in a fine stand and took Accies to 190 for 8.  In amongst it all, Smudger took a further 4 wickets, leaving him joint second in the divisional bowling charts.

Last week a late mini Cross collapse had offered the Accies a sniff of victory. This week we decided to collapse early, partly prompted by some good bowling from Ramsay senior (9-2-26-2) whose action looked as fluid as in his Grange pomp and Irshid (7-0-20-1), but possibly also by some generous umpiring. Whatever the cause, 40-4 didn't look good and while Accies weren't repeating last week's raucous post-wicket huddles (they were probably the sadly missing Blackie's idea), their tails were certainly up.

But then Julius, ably assisted by first Ziggy (32) and then Milly (16), gradually took charge and his 91 not out, which mixed calm intelligence, well-judged running and clean hitting (two consecutive sixes were particularly memorable), settled the game in some style and with five overs to spare. A really excellent innings and a fine team fight-back.

Thanks to the Accies for another game played in good, neighbourly spirits. We hope to see you again next season.