U9 v Merchiston

 (The rules: Each pair faces 4 overs. A wicket loses 5 runs.)

 
Jock WM won the toss and decided to field first.

Jock WM and Hamish were our first bowlers; they took 3 wickets between them, bowled 7 extras and managed to limit the first pair 19 runs; a reasonable start.                                                                                 Total 19
Will and Pandora, not wanting to be outdone, bowled 14 extras and yet restricted their pair to 5 runs, taking 1 wicket each.                         Total 24
Susannah and Flora were next and set about demolishing their pair, taking 2 and 3 wickets respectively, bowling only 4 extras, allowing them only 8 runs.                                                                                                    Total 32
In came the fourth pair who were singularly unimpressed by our bowlers (who will remain nameless) and promptly scored 46 runs!                            Total 78
Jock and Hamish came back on to restrict the last pair to 5 runs.  

                                                                          Merchiston's Final Total 83                                                                                       

 That seemed a fairly tall order for our inexperienced side.
After a quick turnaround, it was our turn to bat.

 
Jock WM and Pandora were first in and Jock thought he’d give Merchiston a run for their money and set about hitting a pair of 4s and a brace of 6s! He was more than ably supported by Pandora who scored a 6 and a 4. In the end, despite the loss of 1 wicket, they scored 42. What a start!                 Total 42

Will and Jemima were next and despite losing 1 wicket, this pair scored 5.  

                                                                                                              Total 47
Hamish and Flora were the third pair; with the help of a dozen extras and no loss of wicket they pushed the score on by 21!                                   Total 68

On came Jock B and Skye who, after some careful (or was that sleepy!?) batting and a single wicket-loss added another 6 to our total.            Total 74
Things were decidedly looking up!

So the last pair came in 9 runs behind... Susannah and Sophie knew they had a chance of catching up if they could avoid losing wickets. Susannah called some tight singles and hit two 4s; Sophie then lost two wickets; everything rested on the last couple of balls...they bowled a couple of wides and then...Susannah lost her wicket to a wickedly good ball! So close and yet so far! The pair scored 3. Do the maths:                         Belhaven’s final total: 77
So it was close, much closer than I expected, and I was very pleased with the team’s performance. Well done all 10 players!