Undies hung out to dry by impressive Loretto attack
The Under Elevens suffered their first defeat of the season this afternoon against an impressive Loretto side.
Put in to bat by the visitors, Belhaven got off to a shaky start when Jamie Farr was run out in the first over having faced just one ball. George Watson and Jock Stodart dug in in the face of some very good Loretto bowling, but when Jock was bowled playing across a straight ball we were 7 for 2 and in need of rescuing.
George Watson and Hughie Brooks batted sensibly for five overs before George missed a straight one and was bowled for eight and, in the very next over, Hughie was dismissed by a sharp catch.
23 for 4 was a precarious position, and with an inexperienced side, even more so. We needed somebody to really dig in, and bat time. Unfortunately, the
Loretto bowling attack ploughed onwards, and by getting the basics right, and bowling straight, they cut through our middle order. Batsmen came and went and came and went, some falling to good deliveries, others playing needless shots so early in their innings. By the time Angus Barlow was last man out, Belhaven had collapsed to 31 all out.
But many games have been won by sides batting first who have made low totals, and at the half way point captain Hughie Brooks decided that all out attack was the only option, to try to snaffle a few quick wickets and sow the seeds of doubt into Loretto minds. He duly set an attacking field, while at the same time trying to ensure that it would be as difficult as possible for the visitors to score the 32 required for victory.
32, however, is a very tough score to defend, and when Loretto had raced to 16 for 0 at the end of the third over, the task looked even more difficult. We were fielding well, not allowing any easy runs, but Loretto were climbing steadily towards their target.
With one run required, George Watson dismissed one of their opening batsmen - a consolation maybe, but reward too for some accurate bowling, before Loretto finished the job.
A disappointing day this might have been for the under elevens, but there is talent a-plenty within this side and with a bit more grit and determination in the batting there is plenty for these boys to achieve this term.
Dig in, boys, work hard, and bounce back against Edinburgh Academy next week.
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