Gone With the Wind - 3rds' Promotion Hopes Blown Away in St Andrews

Alex Candlish reports -

On a blustery afternoon in St Andrews 11 brave Crossers (there were only 8 four weeks earlier) rocked up with a sense of optimism that two successive promotions could be achieved. What a difference four hours of blustery cricket makes.

Captain Carnage (or MS Candlish) won the toss and chose to bat in what was a 50/50 call on whether to bat or bowl first. You may be told differently by 10 other Crossers but with our chasing record I will stick up for myself in this instance.

Mahmood and Ken opened the batting with their typical watchful play as HX made it to the 10 over mark with no wickets down but with only 15 or so on the  board. Ken's wicket in the 11th over brought El Pres to the crease only to be bowled first ball. Mike Nevin survived the hat-trick ball but he and Mahmood were soon gone and others followed in a flurry of wickets as Largo continued to bowl well. Kappy Gilmore looked to steady the ship for a while with some solid forward defensives but, after agreeing that we was going to block out a few more, Elmo attempted to smash a 6 back to Arbo into the wind and was caught on the boundary. A classic HX batting collapse - all out for 53 in about 27 overs. Savage amusement as my father says.

Despite having an excellent bowling line-up, 53 was just never going to be enough and the much sought after victory eluded us as Largo passed out total in around 22 overs.