St. Mary’s 1st XI v Fettes

Wednesday 29th April 

1st XI: Will (C), Magnus (C), James, William, Geordie, Arthur, Mary, Tilly, Harry, Henry & Ruben 

St. Mary’s won by 85 runs 

What a cracking way to kick start the new season. Fettes was in blazing sunshine as Will won the toss and elected to bat first. We were a little late arriving, so openers James and William had little time to warm up and get their eye in. You wouldn’t have known it! Both batted superbly well, seeing off both opening bowlers and getting the scoreboard ticking along nicely. A couple of particularly sweet cover drives gave both boys well-deserved boundaries before they both retired.  

Will & Magnus then kept the runs coming with some sublime shots and super running between the wickets. Will top edged one straight to backward point and was dismissed by a good catch. Geordie played well before playing around a straight ball which he tried to hit through Mr Mill’s kitchen window! Arthur came to the crease and partnered Magnus to good effect but got slightly underneath a cut shot and was caught at point. Mary then also played some good shots and supported Magnus at the other end but an ill-timed single was her demise. Henry then took his turn at the wicket and straight away clipped a ball off his legs for four and once again, both he and Magnus kept the score moving well. Magnus reached an unbeaten 50 so both he and Henry retired to allow Tilly and Harry to face the final over. They both did exactly what was needed; bat on ball and run well between the wickets. They added a vital 11 off the final over, setting Fettes 134 for victory. 

Arthur and Will opened the bowling and other than a couple of streaky edges, their bowling was tight. However, it wasn’t until the 4th over that their first wicket fell. A nice shot off Will’s bowling didn’t quite make it over Henry’s head, who took a super catch. The next wicket came in the next over. Henry’s super line was rewarded with his first wicket but then Fettes stuck in. The runs were hard to come by but the Fettes pair protected their wickets well. The next wicket eventually fell to a good run out off Ruben’s bowling. The batsmen tried to take a quick single but Henry and William behind the stumps had other ideas and they claimed the Fettes 3rd wicket in the 9th over with the score on 36. Thereafter the wickets fell quite quickly. Mary’s bowling was brilliant and she took three wickets in two overs, including a superb caught & bowled. Harry bowled one over and with two wickets in two balls, nearly got a hattrick! Tilly’s pace was impressive and she gave the Fettes batsmen plenty to think about but it was Geordie who wrapped the innings up, taking the final two wickets in his first over.  

It was a super all-round, team performance today. Some lovely cricket played on a cracking wicket underneath a cloudless sky. What a way to kick start the new season. 

Next week we travel to Mowden for a 2.30pm start.  

Mr P.  MH