"Paxo Never Got One of These" - Lohan Sinks Watsons as 2nds Win Again

Saturday was dull but warm as stand-in skipper BAF put Watsonians 3rds in. Praveen, in his first

No house colours for Gerry's fag

spell for several years, showed a little rust but also some "good wheels" from the Castle End, while Ross T bowled a tidy spell from the Ferry Road End. The openers beat the bat often enough, but with the Arbo Doctor gusting strongly from the west some wide wides and some stolid batting from Counsell (29) and Borthwick left our opposition 40 for 0 from just 11 overs at the first bowling change.

However Gerry (9-2-16-4), wearing his near-50-year-old house colours cravat and utilising all his Arbo experience, struck first ball, removing Borthwick with the first of three LBWs and by the time his excellent spell was over, Watsonians were 80-odd for 5 with Rae unfortunate to fall to a dodgy call and a BAF-Lawrie run out.

There's nothing unusual about Gerry bowling beautifully, but that run-out, so slow-mo that it may still be going on, was only one of a number of odd incidents, now listed in ascending order of weirdness. Ken pulled off a superb stumping. Buchie took an excellent catch low by his right knee to dismiss the dangerous Tim Bunker off Ross P - but only after first flinging his hands up towards his left shoulder. The-man-who-had-Paxman-for-his-fag-at-school appealed for an LBW from slip by shouting "No Ball". And, strangest of all, JB (4-1-7-3) nipped out the tail in his first bowl of the year. Watsonians nine down and all out for 111.

Our top order had barely featured thus far this season, but this time it was different, if only because our middle order engine room of Dan (19) and Ross T (30) had been promoted to open. They put on 61 before Dan fell to Bunker (9-3-26-1) who bowled a typically probing spell. Soon after Ross was bowled by Somerset, but any jitters were short-lived as JB (29*) and Ziggy (11*) took us to a winning total of 112 for 2 in the 24th over.

Thanks to Watsonians for a game played in good spirits, for their very fair umpiring and for hanging around for a drink or two - if only we could arrange an FA Cup Final with extra time every week, the bar takings would soar ......