Subdued but Significant Seconds' Success

After our early season run of three wins and a tie, things haven't been going so well lately. So we approached the return match with Preston Village slightly nervously: three of our remaining five fixtures were against the top three; PV had been struggling themselves and would be looking for a win; and availability was poor.

But if our availability was poor, PV's was worse and they arrived with just nine men. Smudger won the toss and, with rain forecast for later, had no hesitation in doing what he always does anyway and deciding to bowl. Vik (6-1-9-2) and Popey (5-1-8-1) opened up in such a tight, aggressive fashion that it was a surprise when the first wicket fell to a run-out as Vik pulled off a good stop in the gully and, with Popey's assistance, ran out Dobie who couldn't make it back to the non-striker's end.

The key moment, though, came with the wicket of Shiraz Ramzan. Shiraz has feasted on our bowling in recent seasons and it was a huge bonus when James yorked him first ball. Popey, moonlighting from helping out at some minor sporting event in Glasgow, has put on a good deal of pace since he last played for us and this was a fitting reward for a fine spell.



Popey (on the left) at his Scottish day job.

The other incident of note in the innings came when Davie King collapsed in agony setting off for a run. Davie, who's had more than his fair share of injuries in recent seasons, immediately self-diagnosed ruptured tendons, but a later x-ray found a broken bone as well. It was naturally all a bit subdued after that and only a looming storm cloud seemed to induce a bit more urgency in the HX attack as Dan (3.4-4-5-2) nipped in for his almost obligatory cheap wickets and Vik returned to bowl Black who had compiled a dogged 20. The Village People all out for 54 in the 28th over, just in time for the rain to put paid to hopes of a quick turnaround.

After tea the end came fairly quickly with JB (23 no) hitting three boundaries in the eleventh over as PV, gambling on a second bowling point, deployed an Aussie-style umbrella slip field, or as near as you can with only nine men.

Umbrella field - not Arbo on Saturday.

Thanks to Popey for helping out and to PV for another game played in good spirits and some black humour. We hope that availability and Davie recover well and soon.