Stu Wasn't the Only One - 2s Lose.

The first fixture against Grange remains one of the highlights of the season so far as 10 Crossers (9 for a couple of hours as Elmo took one of his regular trips to A&E) managed to chase down a target of 230 with four wickets and seven balls to spare on a glorious Goldenacre afternoon.

The mysterious message awaiting us on Saturday.

We were better prepared for this game in one respect at least (we had 11 men throughout). But, while the selectors had done a remarkable job in the face of terrible availability to produce three elevens, this was a second XI that, even more than the Australians yesterday, was likely to prompt chants of "Are you Holy Cross thirds in disguise?".

In fact, "Are you the midweek eleven in disguise?" might have been even more appropriate as the game set off at T20 pace. We'd lost the toss and been put in - one of those tosses that a captain (stand-in, naturally) of a weakened team, knowing that his best chance of points is to bowl first and see what happens, is almost pleased to lose.

We went along at five an over for quite a while with Ross (29 - runs, not years) in his first game of the season, JB and Andy G all playing (too?) aggressively. Duncan Player (5.4-1-24-3) took two early wickets but it was the introduction of Ross Patterson's off-spin that destroyed the innings as he recorded figures of 9-3-19-5 and we subsided from 64 for 3 to 87 all out, three short of a batting point.

A nasty shower and a threatening sky briefly prompted the Grange skipper to enquire about turning straight round, but then the rain got worse and we took an early tea. Many of us then had an early (or at least earlier than usual on a Saturday) supper too, as Duncan Player (58 no off just 38 balls - 7 4s and 2 6s) almost singlehandedly chased down our total. Zeeshan bowled very well on his welcome return after a couple of  years away and deserved his wicket, and Grange finished 91 for 1 off just 74 balls.

Thanks to those who stepped in (and up) at short notice to make sure we got sides out. Thanks too to Grange for another game played in very good spirits and with lots of good chat. We'll try to make it last a bit longer next time.