1st XI v The Old Boys

It was a stunning evening for the annual 1^st XI match against the Old Boys, which took place today, here at Belhaven Hill. Eight of last year’s leavers managed to make it today but their ranks were swelled by the addition of a few older old boys which all made for a very entertaining, spirited and close game of cricket.   The 1^st XI were put in to bat by the Old Boys and the opening pair of Younger and Harley got off to a strong start and both advanced to the traditional ‘skinny bat’, though this didn’t prevent them ensuring that the total passed fifty before Harley was retired. Younger was eventually caught off Jack’s bowling. O. Farr and Riley continued where the opening pair left off and the score raced along before a flurry of wickets slowed things down a bit. Farr was run out, Riley bowled on eighteen (no, it doesn’t go towards your average Charlie), and Plowden run out without scoring. With only a couple of overs remaining, Gordon Cumming and Wright added a few before GC made way for Warre. At the end of fifteen overs the 1^st XI had amassed a solid ninety nine runs.   MacDonald was the cheapest of the Old Boys bowlers with only five runs scored off his over while Seymour was the most expensive – two run outs did occur in his over but no Leo, they do not count as your wickets.   And so the Old Boys came in to bat needing one hundred to win off fifteen overs. Rettie and Donaldson got them off to some kind of start before both were dismissed with the score on ten. Cuthbert looked steady but then poked one back to the bowler while Seymour defied the odds and smashed the ball to all corners of the ground. MacDonald joined him at the crease and he stuck around for a while playing some unorthodox shots and passing some even more unorthodox comments. Seymour departed after being stumped and MacDonald was run out. Johnstone showed that he has some heavy weaponry in his arsenal and scored a respectable nineteen while Armstrong skipped and ducked his way to four while all the while the required run rate crept upward.   Two wickets in quick succession brought the two Dalrymples to the crease – Tom and Peter. With three overs remaining, the Old Boys needed a mighty thirty two to win the match. With one over remaining, they needed eighteen. A four off the first ball was followed by a dot ball, a single and then another single. This meant that with two balls left, they needed twelve runs – two sixes (even I can do that Maths). Riley ran in to bowl, he pitched it up, it was on wickets but T. Dalrymple (a number seven batsman if I have ever seen one) took a couple of strides forward and smashed a good twenty yards over the boundary for six! So, six needed off the final ball. Once again Riley ran in, this time it was slightly over-pitched and not on wicket; Dalrymple again strode down the wicket and again lashed into it. This time he didn’t get hold of it and only two runs came. Victory for the 1^st XI by a meagre three runs.   It was a super match, played in a fine spirit and I do hope that all those watching and participating enjoyed themselves. I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with the boys who I had a chance to chat to while umpiring - thank you for making the trip back to Belhaven Hill. Well done the 1^st XI, you did yourselves proud.   No match this weekend boys – good luck for the exams.   Result   Match won by 3 runs.   Man of the Match: ? (Author: William Townshend)

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