"Giants" Of Holy Cross Fail To Impress

Insanity

The UK's barmy smoking restrictions almost put paid to our valiant boys hopes in the Activcity Indoor 6's at Forrester High School on Friday night. More on that in a sec.

First up we were pitted against Division One new boys Edinburgh South and retro Crosser, the Good Doctor Astley!!!

HX: S McOscar, P Kumar, A Millington, T Archer, R Bainbridge, J McOscar.

With most of our team debuting in this format and a green skipper in Si McOscar, who sloppily lost the toss, we were put in and got busy running ourselves out (3 of the 5 wickets were run outs, although Bainbro still managed to miss a devious straight one as is his way and got bowled).

We tiptoed into the 70's with the highlights being Praveen clattering the first ball he faced for 6 and a decent tap by hot new signing Jimbo McOscar. But it wasn't enough and the Good Doctor eventually saw his team home with 4 wickets down.

I arrived to witness the last rites of this defeat and proceeded to read the riot act at our underperforming slackers. I was especially harsh on the skipper for losing the toss as our tournament survival now hung by a thread. Confusion reigned supreme as Praveen appeared set to make for home before we reminded him there was still a game to come.

Before long it was Game 2 and we were on against another former HX Leg End, S Russell's East Lothian County CC (aka Tranent). Simon paid heed to my barracking and this time won the toss, opting to put the oppo in first. But wait, there were only 5 bodies left. Praveen had indeed scarpered!!! Welcome to the captaincy Si and try and keep your troops in order!!!

With complete reluctance, I safely entered the arena, jeans and all.

Praveen as game 2 kicked off

Our chuckers set about their task of spraying down some leg side wides and when we realised we weren't going to get them all out inside 8 overs, it became apparent that I might have to bowl my 2 over quota.

Praveen re-appeared at this point. Turned out he'd simply nipped outside for a cigarillo and hadn't realised we were playing again straight away. If only you could smoke in gym halls, none of this would have been an issue!!! But I wasn't for budging from the game now especially with a chance to show the throwers how to bowl.

With obvious trepidation, the skip threw me the ball. Needless to say I found some prodigious swing and couldn't even keep the ball on the mat for the first couple of deliveries. But once I adjusted the seam I soon began to terrorise the Tranentians ending on 0-19 from two overs in a cameo that everyone there will surely remember until the day they croak. These figures would have been even better if Archer hadn't dropped the first wicket in what would probably have been a match winning hat-trick as the men from the East tried to find a way to cope with my 'variety'.

They made their way to 82 which if we cut out the run outs, should have been a breeze. However, the less said about our innings the better. Lets say our ringer salvaged things. Retiring once before returning as last wicket he plundered 39 (not out) partnering extras (mid twenties) whilst the rest of us failed to make double figures. We managed to reach the target on the penultimate ball (Milly turning one round the corner for 3) keeping our slim tournament hopes alive.

The other highlight was a call from a Tranent player as we floundered mid innings "come on lads, this'll be a giant killing"!!!!

Did I mention the dropped catch off my bowling???

There is an Indoor 6's link on the ESCA website. It hasn't been updated yet but I'm sure details will appear in due course.

Finally, for all the evidence based factboys, this picture of club stalwart McGill on his third last birthday is counter proof of the actual good that pumping chemical smoke into your lungs can do.

Happy Birthday Coco, here's to the next 100

Joy for Vikram as CJE takes desperate measures to ensure McGill's Midweek Men earn first win

In the second midweek friendly of the season McGill's mongrel horde managed to defeat Edinburgh South by circa 40 runs at Arbo.

Batting first Vikram notched his first career 50 with some customarily healthy blows. Despite a not out innings containing several big 6's the highlight of the innings was a spectating CJE being press ganged into open. Without kit he opted to use McGill's box (older than most HX players), his fitness for Saturday is currently under review. Oh, and he got 40 odd. Runs also for Ross and Gary impressed with bat and ball.

In reply Cross shed players throughout the innings finishing with 8 on the pitch and your author making his first and final appearance with the gloves (still better than my batting). Tight bowling meant Edinburgh were always behind the run rate and with McGill taking his 1901, 1902 and 1903 career wickets (2000 by the end of the season?) we won in the twilight.

Midweek Crossers Bitten by Pirani in (Yet Another) Last Ball Thriller

Coco signals to BAF that there's one to come in
the over.

In an entertaining and good-natured friendly (the last of the season) at Arbo:

Edinburgh South 120ao (19.3 overs)
A.Lal 24, P. Reddish 26
R. Bainbridge 3/9 (2 overs)
C. Ellis 3/20 (4 overs)

Holy Cross 117/7
R. Bainbridge 16
C. Ellis 64*

After the early bowlers struggled to control one of Coco's special swinging balls, we kept them to a par score. After an early collapse (44/5 off 10), we recovered and eventually required 10 off the the last over to win. However, talented all rounder Amin Pirani bowled it well and we were unable to get him away (needing 4 from the last ball, we could only scramble a single).

Highlights of the game include Michael's first ever run (punched through straight midwicket) before being welcomed to the Cross ranks in the traditional manner (getting run out by a member of the Ellis family), and Calum's lofted drive (though he forgot that he needed to run for balls that only look like they're going to the boundary).

Lowlight was - after being controversially given out stumped by the keeper standing back - McGill's 'foul mouthed tirade' (in which none of the main swear words were overlooked) directed at the umpire (BAF).

Thanks to ES for an enjoyable game and for providing sub fielders for those who didn't turn up...
(come on chaps; these games are an excellent way of finding form before league games).