With just four players from the previous week backing up for the game against Old Scotch, it was a bit of a patchwork team that took to the park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Hawthorn. However, we were able to pick up James Weitkamp (an ex-School 1st’s opening bowler), and he proceeded to blow Scotch’s top order away, leaving them reeling at 3/32 after 9 overs. Unfortunately, two of their more senior batsmen then knuckled down and got their innings back on track. Searching for options, the skipper finally relented and threw the ball to Colby (our leading wicket-taker from season 2012/13) for his first extended bowling session of the year. In a devastating spell, Colby ripped into the Scotch middle order, picking up 4 wickets, including two in two balls. Unfortunately, they were able to rally from 8/137 to finish at 9/200, but with the outfield deceptively quick, we were still in with a chance.
We got off to a nervous start, with Colby, normally our most reliable batsman, being run out from the boundary in controversial circumstances. PG and Rory came together and steadied the ship, but after Rory was adjudged LBW, we were in a bit of strife at 2/31 after 11 overs. With the skipper tied down at one end, PG started to flay the ball to all parts of the ground in an effort to lift the run rate. Unfortunately, just as it looked as though PG was going to make his well-deserved 50, he got a good one from their opening bowler and was back in the shed for an entertaining 49. By the time the skipper finally worked out how to hit the ball through the in-field, the required run rate has risen substantially, and the pressure was on. Charlie Hay came in and had a dip, and even made the skipper run a 3, which may well limit his chances of getting a bowl in the future. Unfortunately, both Charlie and the skipper fell at the 130 mark, but with Will Vickers and James Weitkamp scoring briskly, we were still a chance. The last four overs of our innings saw the steep run rate forcing us to play shots and take runs that probably weren’t there, and we ended up at 9/167.
Although this was another very disappointing result, as we probably should have won this game, we showed some continued improvement from the previous week, which was pleasing. Thanks go to Rob Cumming, who came down at the last minute and put in a big effort in the field, and even survived a couple of overs at the end. Hopefully, we can see all of the new guys back, as there is no doubt we aren’t far away from pulling off our first win of the season.
P.Weymouth (aka Dino)
3rd XI Captain