Good Win For 3rd XI

Falkland 3rd XI 227 for 7
(A Yadav 65, A Anson 46, M Low 33)

Drummond Trinity 2nd XI 181 all out
(A Yadav 5-20, A Anson 2-20)

Falkland Won by 46 Runs

On Saturday the 3rd XI took on Drummond Trinity who were sitting just above us in the league having won 2 and lost 2. We were desperate for a win after having lost the last 3. A couple of changes had been made to the team - no we hadn’t dropped anybody, settle, it’s the 3rd XI. We had Grant ‘the 6 byes’ Porteus available after having turned up for work the last few Saturdays and we had brought in Robbie ‘El Presidente ‘Nellies in at the last minute.
The sun was out at Scroggie Park and the school grounds were looking mighty fine - yes you read it right , the sun was out and it was actually warm. After playing the last few weeks in what felt like outer Siberia it was welcomed. Yes the sun was out and you knew you were in Scotland as the ground was full of shorts, vests and white legs - it looked like a multi audition for the next Milky Bar Kid. The shades were out, but it was only for the reflection from the legs - we even had the Scottish tradition of sandals and white socks on the same feet.
The toss again took place outside the changing room - well that is a long walk. For the first time this season I lost the toss, -was it going to make a difference? We were invited to bat by the opposition and I went for the old guard - yes we opened with the partnership of experience, with a combined age of 114. it was Alan ‘overseas amateur ‘ Wilkie and Robbie.
The 2 of them started well and it was in the 5th over before we lost a wicket when Alan let one get through the gap. Kieran ‘I’m a bowler now’ Westland joined Robbie and the 2 of them put up strong resistance, but runs were hard to come by. We reached the 14th over when Robbie was caught for 17 - well he was getting tired and we had the oxygen and ice bath ready for him. We had amassed a grand total of 27 for 2, again failing to make 2 an over. Things were starting to look grim again, but maybe I was wrong. Avin ‘wake me up before you go go’ Yadav was at the crease and looking good. He was joined by Ash ‘I drive a mini bus now’ Anson when we lost Kieran for 4 and things started to heat up. The bowlers must have wondered what was going on. The shine had definitely been beaten off the ball as it landed in every corner of the park. At one point the ball went in the bushes and could not be found, I think it was more of ‘to hell with this I’m staying in here’. I was waiting to go in next and starting to get pad rash, I had been waiting that long. After 2 bottles of juice, 5 trips to the toilet, well bushes anyway, and 20 fags I was called upon. Ash was eventually bowled for 46, yes jug avoiding is a hefty fine, a brilliant 120 partnership and we were sitting on 151 for 4.
Avin was next to go for a very well deserved 65 and we looked like a team of batsmen. I rattled up a quick 33 before being caught behind, Liam ‘Habib ‘Farrell with 10 and both Scott ‘I work at St Andrews ‘Robertson (13) and big Grant (6) were not out we had reached 227 for 7, our highest total of the year. A big 6 off the last ball of the inning as it landed in coo corner from Grant. Everybody in the park knew exactly where the ball was going, apart from the bowler. Tea was taken.
We took to the park in the second innings with a bit of a nose bleed as we hadn’t defended a total like this for a very long time. There were a lot of bowling options, but I stayed with my usual 2 openers in Grant ‘look at my bruise’ Langlands and Ash. The first few overs were again tight, but the maiden wicket didn’t appear until the 7th over when Ash took the openers stumps, - yes they were out of the ground this week, but only because they hadn’t been put in securely. It was again a few more overs before the second wicket, a change had been made in the bowling with big Grant and Avin joining the attack and it was the aforementioned big Grant that took the wicket. He managed to get one to pitch in the same half of the artificial as the batsman was standing and the shocked batsman misjudged it, bowled. Grant was bowling well, but behind the wickets it wasn’t so easy, I was almost situated on the boundary and 1st slip, Alan was doing most of my stopping for me as the ball was sprayed everywhere, and he almost managed 6 byes again.
The next victim was taken again by Avin with a great caught and bowled. Would he have dived that far if it was somebody else’s bowling? Of course he would - well that’s what he told me anyway. The wickets were falling quite quickly now and Avin was taking most of them. He finished his 5 for by taking 2 wickets in his last over. We really must speak clearly to the barman in the clubhouse as I think he ignored Avin’s order of a jug. Their 8th wicket again took a while and it took the reintroduction of Ash to end the partnership, The scores were getting closer and we had to try and slow them down, although they still needed 10 an over, I took the pads off and came on to try. My first 2 balls were dots and the 3rd took their 9th wicket. I have heard the rumours that their number 11 batsman was led out to the middle by his guide dog and dropped his pension book on the way, but I think it was the speed, swing and turn on the ball that made him miss it as he went first ball. Well, ok then, all I did was bowl straight. The game was over and our second win of the season was in the bag. There was a brilliant man of the match performance from Avin as he finished with 5 For 20 to add to his 65 runs, wee Grant finished with 0 for 28 from 7, big Grant 1 for 18 from 9, Scott 0 for 46 from 7, Ash 2 for 26 from 7, Lyle 0 for 20 from 3 and of course my amazing 2 for 0 from 0.4, just shaded out for man of the match by Avin. They ended up all out for 181.
A great team performance and a deserved win, we stuck to our task and heads never went down as they did get closer to our score. We are at home to MDAFS this Sat who are unbeaten this season, -let’s put a spanner in the works boys.

Mel