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2nd XI v Fettes
by Our Cricketing Fashion Reporter - Fine Leg
Belhaven caught out but finally fetter Fettes
Won by 55 runs
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Belhaven Hill
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119 for 10
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Fettes
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64 for 6
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Winning the toss, Fettes fell right into the carefully laid trap and put Belhaven into bat. The squad had been bolstered by Ali Johnston (on loan from New Zealand) and everyone was keen to see him do his stuff.
We did not expect to see him back in the pavilion three minutes later having been run out before striking a ball in anger! Obviously jet lag was still an issue as he tried to call for a run when the fielder had the ball in his hand. The 2nd XI selection committee will be looking for a refund!
Fettes bowlers were accurate and fairly pacey - something that the Seconds were not particularly used to in net practice. However they managed to put a brave face on it, did not complain and began to make some interesting shots!
Eight minutes after the start of the match Archie hung his bat out to dry and gave some catching practice to gully. And thus set a trend that most of the other batsmen decided to follow!
Charlie Riley, Harry Clough, Edward Wauton and Wills Younger all succumbed to the drying bat routine, but they did score 9 valuable runs between them. Better luck next time, lads!
Meanwhile George ‘Hero’ Cuthbert was smashing and slashing his way through the bowling, though not without the odd streak of luck. But on the whole he was fairly conservative (the only reference to the election that will be allowed. Ed) with his strokes and eventually amassed 48 crucial runs.
The young bloods of Wills, Rupert and Harry produced some interesting shots but only procured 6 runs. Things were looking a bit desperate, especially when Big Man could only get 1 run before being run out. Even last week’s hero, Tom A-W, hopped about the pitch but could not make clean contact, though he did get into double figures - just.
Big Ham came in, swished his bat, made contact twice, scored 5 and then was run out, thus ending the innings. Thankfully that wonderful run-maker, X. T. Ras, was on form and liberally (I warned you. No more election nonsense. Ed) added 38 to Belhaven's score, bringing the total to a respectable 119. Credit to Fettes' bowlers for doing a fine job and to their gully who pouched 4 catches.
If the Fettes batting proved as good as their bowling then the Super Seconds would have to bowl extremely well to defend their score. And they did not disappoint.
Ali and George opened the account and in Ali’s second over Tom A-W, waiting at gully, launched himself carefully a few inches to his right to bag the first wicket. Two overs later Ali bowled a potential run maker to bring the score to 20 for 2. Things were looking up.
As usual the sharing, caring Seconds allowed others to bowl and thus Archie and Cap Edward turned their arms over to great effect, keeping the runs down and The Cap taking two wickets.
Two other bowlers were used. Tom A-W (this season refusing to get out of the limelight) got his obligatory wicket ably assisted by a great diving catch by Rupert Warre, who looked rather bemused as he realised that he had a red spherical object in his hand and was being congratulated by his team mates!
Will Prenter was a tad wild and gave the Umpires plenty of arm exercise recording no balls, byes and wides. If this bowler just became more consistent he could be devastating. (to the opposition not his team. Ed) but the batsmen couldn’t get hold of his deliveries and not many runs were scored from the bat. This despite Fettes No.4 being a stubborn lad who refused to be bamboozled by Belhaven’s balls and remained not out.
Mention must be made, at this point, of the wicket keeper. Charlie Riley was just superb. Only 7 byes were let through and all of them from deliveries that either bounced awkwardly or did some strange thing in the air! His reactions were second to none and the team was, frankly, in awe of this little fella. He probably saved at least 20 runs.
But it looked as if , despite all their labours (Right. That’s it. Last reference to election stuff or you’re fired. Ed) the bowlers would run out of overs and so not be able to bowl Fettes out. Of course in a limited overs game that’s ok as long as the opposition don’t get the runs. And Fettes were in no danger of achieving their target.
The game ended with their being 55 runs short and having lost 6 wickets. A good solid performance from the Belhaven team but their batting needs to be more solid and fluent. But I’m sure as the season progresses their confidence will strengthen and they will be able to take to the green part...(You’re fired. Ed)
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David Peek, 07/05/2010 |
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