Preston Panning

Our 2012 visit to the Polwarth Oval must rank as one of the strangest and most shambolic days in Cross history as our then skipper was, ahem, "detained", leaving BAF and JB stranded at Arbo until Andy G lent them a car. We started with seven men and ended with ten - and a six wicket defeat.

This year it was the Village People who were in some disarray, calling off their 2nds' game against our 3rds on the Thursday, as injuries and holidays took their toll. It soon became clear that most of the 2nds had been called up into the 1sts and we were particularly pleased not to see Ramzan who scored two excellent fifties against us last season.

PV won the toss and put us in. Adam Smith (9-3-11-2) bowled an admirable, economical spell (there's a joke there somewhere, but it won't quite come out) using the pronounced slope to bring the ball back into the batsmen. But none of the other seven bowlers really settled and the biggest brakes on our progress were JB's growling Achilles which produced some interesting "running" and the uncanny ball magnetism of Keith Clark at extra cover.

After the early loss of Irfan, Brian (35) and JB (75 on the match return, 76 in the book and 78 in his head) rebuilt before Ziggy (45no) and Andy G (32) accelerated nicely. 235 for 5 was easily our best score of the season, but it could easily have been more.

Gerry kneels before the sacred teapot.

After a good tea in the sunshine, we opened up with Andy K (6-1-9-3) and Amjid (6-3-9-1) and they immediately extracted some pronounced movement and lift, and looked set to take plenty more wickets. Then, shockingly, with four down, both were taken off as Smudger, riding high in the divisional wicket-taking charts, sniffed scalps.

And so on came Gerry at the railway end and Smudge at the pavilion end. But the cricketing gods, offended by the skipper's self-serving move and answering Gerry's teatime prayers, decreed that all the remaining wickets should fall at one end while Smudger bowled barely a ball at anyone but Gary Nisbet who tucked in for 33 not out. Gerry ended with the startling figures of 6.3-4-6-6, due reward for his excellent form this season, and Preston Village were all out for 52.

Thanks to PV for making the most of a beautiful day by bowling first, for the excellent humour in which the game was played throughout and for their hospitality in the Goth afterwards. We hope availability improves soon.