Peebles Wobble? No. 2nds go 3rd.

In barbecue weather, Peebles won the toss and put us in. Despite a fine spell from the enthusiastic Maxwell (9-3-24-2) and the distraction of the wicketkeeper pulling his calf muscle in the second over, Brian and Irfan proceeded fairly calmly in putting on 50 for the first wicket. I say fairly calmly because Brian had a Joe Root moment early on, perfectly bisecting keeper and first slip at a catchable height. Cormack, the stand-in keeper who later took an excellent catch to dismiss Irfan, can console himself that Brad Haddin would have done, indeed did, no better.

The introduction of Webb (9-1-33-4) caused us problems and 52 for 0 became 72 to 3, but Brian and Ziggy rebuilt. Brian was on top form and looked to be heading, Root-like, for a huge score, adding three legside sixes (he even kept both hands on the handle for two of them) to his characteristic nudge-cuts, before he was out oddly tamely for 68. When Ziggy, who has been practicing jug avoidance in recent weeks (32, 45, 45 not out and now 34), fell to the returning Maxwell, we were 160 for 6 and looking to push on to 190+. A final score of 178 for 9 represented a slight disappointment for the Cross and a good fightback from Peebles.

After another fine Arbo tea, the visitors set about the chase with some vigour. Gray (59) in particular was hitting cleanly and powerfully to leg, although he should have been caught twice off Gerry (sorry, mate). At 94-1 there was no sign of a wobble and Peebles were, if anything, favourites.

But one of the best features of our play this season has been a certain relentlessness in the field and, as at Meggetland when Boroughmuir looked to be cruising, one wicket proved crucial. Abdul (9-6-12-1) had already reeled off several maidens in an excellent spell when he finally got a chance to bowl to Gray and lured him into hitting the ball Ziggywards. When batsmen hit the ball Ziggywards there is one inevitability (a warmer Cydzik chest area) and one near-inevitability (a wicket). Finally Gray was out.

Elmondt (6-2-11-3) and JB (6.1-1-14-4), who was apparently being mercilessly sledged all the while by his goddaughter from the boundary (see Quote of the Week below), then mopped up as Peebles subsided from 94-1 to 127 all out.

Thanks to Mandy and Michael for manning the post-match barbie, to El Pres for gracing us with his presence and to Nozza for returning to the 2nds' fold.