Hard won 20 points

Holy X 1's V Carlton CC 2's 

Firstly, some good news! I spoke to Mike Blackshaw this morning and he is back at home and feeling well. Unfortunately he won't be back umpiring this season, but seemed in pretty good spirits. He also asked me to pass on his thanks to both teams. 

With another toss won and several players still not at Arbo, I decided to gamble and insert Carlton to bat, on what looked like a decent Arbo pitch with a bit of grass. As usual KF and Spickers arrived close to 1pm, so we again took to the field with only 10 men. 

The decision to bowl first looked to be a very good one, with Bonners taking 2 quick wickets to leave the visitors in strife struggling to 14-2 after 5 overs.  

The 3rd wicket partnership between the big hitting Legget and wristy Al Shah solidified the visitor’s innings. After 12 overs, Raja and Bacon were introduced and they cut the flow of runs, Bacon bowling some very handy deliveries. 

Before the start of the 19th over, Raja decided he wanted to remove 1st slip and you guessed it, his next ball saw Legget snick one straight through 1^st slip for 4 and brought up his 50!  

Carlton moving to a very solid 72-2 off 18.1.

Then unfortunately Mike who was officiating at square leg took a turn and summoned Bonners from midwicket to help him remain standing. An ambulance was quickly called, but took what seemed an eternity to arrive and then wouldn’t drive across the outfield to get to where Mike was now resting in a chair. With typical public sector efficiency, a second un-needed ambulance arrived only moments later and I suspect there was possibly even a 3^rd that passed down Ferry Rd not long after! 

The paramedics checked Mike’s vitals and then took him to Western General for further tests and monitoring. He certainly seemed in pretty good spirits this morning when I spoke with him. I am sure Carlton would join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.

 

4 balls after the resumption, Legget attempted another lusty blow and was sharply caught at 1st slip by KF. The break in play seemed to unsettle him and break his concentration. A point that was noted by Mike when I spoke to him this morning.

 

Al Shah continued his innings, with a mix of some fine strokes and it must be said a number of edges that were lucky not to find the slip and gulley cordon.  He brought up a well played 52, before being out foxed by Charlie, Saideep taking a good catch out in the deep at cow corner! 

 

The boys all bowled really well, picking up wickets at regular intervals and despite a couple of dropped and one miss-judged catch going down, Carlton were never really allowed to settle at the crease and form a partnership, other than Leggat and Shah.

 

Carlton all out for 139 after 39.1 overs.

Figures of note; Charlie took a fine 4 for 20 off 10, Bonners taking 3 for 39 off 10 and Dougie bowling a wicket maiden in his first and only over.

Saideep and Raja opened up in chase of 140 for victory for the Crossers.

For once Raja was made to look like the slowcoach or Charlie (more on this topic later) of the opening partnership. Saideep raced to a superlative 26 off just 15 balls. Ridiculously plundering 14 runs off a Brad McKay over that included a huge 6 sublimely struck over wide mid-off, forcing the Carlton skipper to take himself out of the attack after just 2 overs.

It really was an innings of rare beauty that I’m told had a number of delightful cover drives, of the likes that have never been seen before at Arbo! This lad is definitely the find of the season for the Cross and someone needs to find him a job in the Oil & Gas sector here in Edinburgh after he finishes his Masters!

Not to be outdone, Raja also hit a number of boundaries and looked in confident form, as we raced to 42-0 off just 5 overs and looked well on track for a quick finish.

Saideep then fell to what can only be called a severe misjudgement in the ability of the Carlton fielding unit; perhaps he was lulled into a false sense of security over the last few weeks and watching his fellow Crossers in the field. After playing a delightful late cut that almost reached the boundary, he turned and called for a second run and ended up by Bacon’s account, “only about 4 yards short”. Run out for 27 off just 17 balls. 

Not long after, Raja fell in what seems to be his typical fashion this season, playing across the line and being caught at cover. He was out for 25 off 20 deliveries, just imagine what they could have done if they stayed in for 10-15 overs!

The Cross now 45-2 off just 7 overs.

The next partnership was in complete contrast to the opening stanza, with Charle and Skip watchfully ticking the scoreboard over, with the odd flurry of runs here and there. After taking some initial tap from Saideep, “Mo, yes Mo, well bowled Mo” saw his last 8 overs only concede about 16 runs, as both Charlie and Skip struggled to get him away.

After taking 8 runs off the first 5 balls of the newly introduced Elder’s first over, McOscar tried to emulate Saideep’s drive over mid-off and only managed to sky a catch up to Al Shah, taking an easy catch at cover.

Time for a drinks break, with the Cross on 103-3 after 25.

Tom come and went within the space of a few balls of the 26^th over, after playing a lovely pull shot for 4. He then got trapped LBW by young Allardice. At least Tom kept up with the strike rate of Raja and Saideep.

Holy Cross now 107-4, but still looking confident of a win.

In marched KF to join Charlie, who at this point had racked up quite a number of dot balls on the trot. Before his next scoring shot, he faced an amazing 30 deliveries without troubling the scorers, something that was pointed out (and I might add, counted out in JB like fashion) ball by ball by the Carlton keeper!

KF had clearly had enough of Charlie’s reluctance to score any runs or even hit a ball and launched an attack on young Elder. He pummelled several boundaries, moving through to 17 runs and within a sniff of Charlie, who had now faced in excess of 60 balls as was still only on 18 runs!

The Cross now within touching distance of the 140 required for victory.

Soon after breaking his drought, Charlie had a rush of blood to the head and tried to hit another ball and fell to a very sharp caught and bowled to Allardice.

KF then went back to the well one too many times and Elder had his man, caught in what can only be said was a mix of uncoordinated brilliance, as captured on film by the Crosser’s own resident photographer Broon. The catch in my opinion looked not unlike a baby giraffe taking his first few steps, before slipping on the placenta and falling backwards, sticking a hand out and taking the catch!

Squeaky bum time for the Crossers with us now 6 down and still requiring 16 runs for victory!

Bonners and Dougie edged us even closer, with some patient and watchful batting, hitting the bad balls and defending the good.

With the score at 136 and victory well within sight, Dougie fell victim to a ball that spun and didn’t bounce, out LBW for 5.

 

136-7, surely we couldn't throw such a solid start away could we?

 

In came Bacon, who only faced a few deliveries, as Bonners farmed the strike. Bonfield then dispatching the last ball of the 37th over to the mid-wicket boundary for 4. Taking himself to 12* and the Cross to 143-7 and a good victory and a valuable 20 points.