Gloomy finish for the firsts.

Murrayfield-Dafs IIs vs Holy Cross Is - at Roseburn (29.5.21). 

 A day on which the deteriorating weather reflected the fortunes of Holy Cross. From glorious afternoon sunshine the match ended in dank gloom. I initially regretted not having any sunscreen...by the end I was shivering.

I arrived at Roseburn as Murrayfield-Dafs IIs reached 50 odd for 2, with some slightly wayward bowling apparently helping their cause. The bowling tightened up and the batsman attempted some overambitious lofted shots on what appeared to be a tricky damp pitch (unsurprisingly so given the exceptionally wet May we've had). In general, the catching and fielding by a young looking Cross side was extremely sound and though there were a couple of missed run outs (and one catch put down off Ben at square leg), Murrayfield-Dafs subsided quickly to 76 for 8. Some late runs from Rathod helping Murrayfield-Dafs rally to reach 99ao and giving his side  something approaching a defendable total on this sluggish and tricky pitch. 

Newcomer Dougie bowled with some decent pace and generally an impressively full length, though there were a couple of beamers. Ben bowled very steadily with his rhythmical action and ended with the best figures-2/15 off 8. Nipun taking 2/19 with his slow left-armers. 3 run outs helped HX close out the innings.  

There was a generally optimistic air at tea with the sense for the chase would be tricky but manageable. Euan felt that the batting was 'strong' and a steady start by a watchful Calum and a relatively fluent Nipun (playing a couple of nice pulls for 4) took the score 21-0 in the 9th over. Ross was looking forward to the openers knocking off the runs and getting into the Murrayfield Hotel. After somehow avoiding a run out (both Calum and Nipun were the same end for a few seconds),  Nipun was bowled.  Calum was out sweeping ('terrible shot selection' he admitted afterwards)  & BAF (lbw)  following soon after. 23-3 and the pitch and the chase both looking far trickier. The Murrayfield-Dafs' bowling really tightened up at this point, exploiting the inconsistent bounce well. 

After Euan was well caught at square leg & Ross out lbw, HX were 37-5 and clear second favourites. Tom was still there anchoring the innings well and a 26 run partnership got HX back in with a realistic chance. Tom was bowled by one that jagged and kept particularly low ('how I am I supposed to play that?!') and when Chinta was -after a promising start- bowled in similar fashion the game was almost up. HX's last 5 wickets going down rather meekly for 12 runs. Mitchell (looking like a right-armed version of Faudhouse's Alan McDonald) taking 4-23 for the home side. 

A disappointing result for HX after a loss in another close match the week before. However, it was good to see a good spirit in the team and plenty of youthful energy. Hopefully results will pick up soon- they travel down to the Borders next week to take on Hawick & Wilton. 

Full scorecard 

Match report by Charlie Ellis