Milngavie Cricket Club 2nd XI vs Anniesland at New Anniesland
HOLD. FAST.
Spoiler: Before the match began some friendly teasing of our new bowling star Kapil that he could maybe “bowl Prem 2 but would field Champ 99” – fair to say this motivated him…
How to sum that match up?
In short; 400 runs 19 wickets on a slow low flat pitch with a bouncy castle at fine leg - finished on the final ball.
TENSE
Milngavie are a brilliant new club with huge depth and a lot of talent and were coming to test an unbeaten Anniesland in “their” home game at our ground. A snafu in comms meant no teas were provided by the "home" side so some folk getting “hangry” as the day progressed!
Meanwhile a huge kids party in the main club house.
QQ won the toss and elected to bat which as with Glenpark a few weeks prior gave us the opportunity to set a target but would give the team batting second the better batting conditions though with pressure of a chase.
At the “home” side request strict wides (as per league rules) to be applied.
A poor start saw Accies 2 down quick great catch at point and a ball that shot doing for QQ and Crawford. Then Fraser walked (cause he is honest to a fault) on the finest of tickles down leg.
Trouble brewing.
However, Milngavie were bowling a lot of wides as their convivial, chatty and funny keeper pointed out “top scorer”. Rory Paterson though was building a superbly paced mature and classy chanceless unbeaten innings of 63 finding partners in Andy (out LBW) and Kapil (stumped).
But the superb Milngavie skipper Jim Brodie on way to 6 wickets (another LBW and two clean bowled) was showing how it was done. He was even on hattrick at one point but was swatted away for four.
Would 202 be enough?
Anniesland thought so but opening bat Hall had other ideas. From ball one he went hard at us and so even when we found the edge (which was a lot) it raced away never going to hand.
Milngavie were flying at 8 an over two LBWs to the rapid and again superb Sohrab had only brought the combative Willis to the crease.
Runs and edges that never went to hand kept coming. Thankfully Kapil struck before drinks (Willis) and Andy immediately after super catch by Kapil.
However, a new threat had emerged Copeland. Running the ball between keeper and slip with skill and soon despite more wickets for Andy and Kapil joined by the slow starting than in the end brilliantly explosive Mahajan.
Now a crucial period in games as Kapil and Sohrab bowled 6 overs for about 10 runs. Kapil and Aaron fielding brilliantly and Aaron breaking his curse by stopping a certain 4 only to throw and hit the helmet conceding FIVE!
Everyone getting their body behind every ball. Our first maiden over at 24 (not good enough) five of the next six maidens. Yes please.
With Kapil bowled out and Anniesland missing (all day) the amazing Sid QQ called on Crick.
Who on receipt of some good well directed funny banter “here comes the man, the legend” bowled shite, but annoyingly for Milngavie Crick makes things happen … running out the well-set Copeland with Kapil (again) was sweet.
With Crick rightly hooked for being awful, Rory returned after a poor first spell he snaffled the key man Mahajan caught…. Kapil
Milngavie who batted deep finally seemed to have reached the tail and despite some tense moments - with 4 needed off the final ball for a tie QQ spread the field – Anniesland won by 3 runs.
Milngavie will rue so many wides but will take a lot of beating this season.
POTM: Rory P 63* and crucial late bowling but a superb day for Andy too
Champagne Moment: Kapil run out on top of all round superb fielding display
*No children on the bouncy castle were hurt in the making of this film