1st XI v Belhaven Hill
Wednesday 27th May
The 1st XI: James, William, Will, Magnus, Geordie, Arhtur, Harry, Ruben, Mary, Tilly T & Henry
St. Mary’s won by 3 wickets
Played on another glorious afternoon, today’s match surely goes down as the best of the season to date, and we’ve had some belters! Whilst on paper a three-wicket win might appear quite comfortable, it was perhaps a little closer than the result might suggest! Will won the toss and decided to ask the visitors to bat first.
Will opened the bowling and was immediately on the money. His line and length were immaculate and he was rewarded with a wicket on his 4th delivery, a wicket that set the tone for the afternoon. A tight over from Magnus, followed by another wicket from Will in his second over, saw both the Belhaven openers back in the pavilion with the score on 10 for 2. It was Arthur who claimed the next wicket, this time the crucial wicket of the Belhaven captain, and Henry continued the attacked with a wicket of his own in his first over. So, with the score on 22 for 4 from 7 overs, we were very much in the driving seat. A couple of overs later, Arthur was on target again and was rewarded for his super line and length with his second of the day, rendering the visitors to 35 for 5 from 10 overs. A super partnership from the Belhaven 4th and 7th batsmen increased their run rate and made the St. Mary’s team work hard in the field. This they did. Our fielding was good and it had to be. A Will / William combination saw the Belhaven number 7 run out with a sharp throw from mid-off and from there I felt we regained control. Three wickets in the next three overs, one of them a super catch by Will on his toes, saw Belhaven on 83 for 8 with 4 overs to go. Mary bowled a brilliant wicket maiden, Geordie’s third over was tight and Will and Magnus closed the innings with two excellent overs. Another wicket to Will in the final over and a super run out off the last ball, meant that Belhaven finished on 92 all out, setting us a target of 93 to win.
After a delicious match tea, James and William opened the batting for the team and were looking comfortable, despite some fast and accurate bowling. In the second over William played a lovely cut and set off without noticing the ball had gone straight to the fielder at backward point. James too committed to the run and nearly made it home, but fell a couple of meters short. We were 9 for 1. The first ball of the 3rd over saw William trudge back to the pavilion, bowled by a cracking delivery; 13 for 2. With Will and Magnus at the crease they batted well, respecting the good balls, of which there were many, but managing to punish the loose ones. Will was bowled in the 7th over, but the two had managed to decrease the deficit, so at Will’s dismissal, we were 53 for 3. Geordie then Arthur both played some good shots but never really settled, Geordie was caught at mid-on and Arthur played around a straight ball and was bowled. Soon after, Magnus was adjudged LBW, so we lost 3 key wickets in quick succession, leaving us on 67 for 6 but we did have time on our side, 9 overs to be precise. Magnus’s departure saw Ruben and Harry come to the crease, both of whom have been batting well in the nets. However, we all know batting well in the nets is one thing, but transferring that to the square is another! Over the next 5 overs, the two batted superbly. Nothing too flamboyant, running well between the wickets, picking off ones and twos with the occasional boundary and gradually the target came into view; every run was cheered from the excited crowd and from their teammates at the pavilion! With the score on 87, they ran a quick single but some sharp fielding saw Ruben come up short. He was replaced by Mary. Belhaven brought their opener back on for the 17th over, but both Harry and Mary did what was needed and hit the target with a little over 3 overs remaining.
It was a superb game of cricket, a game that ebbed and flowed. At one point you felt in control, but the next it was in the balance. Some steady heads was what was needed at crucial moments and the team came up trumps.
In discussions afterwards, we all agreed that close games such as this one are invaluable. Both teams learn so much. They learn how valuable runs are, whether scoring them or saving them. They learn that the smallest margins can prove the difference in tight games, whether that’s saving a boundary, keeping twos to ones or holding the trickiest of catches.
All in all it was a fabulous afternoon of cricket and I was thrilled for the boys to come out on top. Huge congratulations to you all. Next week the boys face Merchiston and the girls play St. George’s, all at home.
Mr P. MH