NEWS

August 16 – PRESTONPANS – Saturday dawned with double good news. The weather was dry and mostly sunny, then a text from Westy to say the 2s were promoted following cancellation of other matches. Knowing this, the threes headed for Prestonpans bouyed by the fact that a win would guarantee their own promotion.

This was our second visit to the ‘pans this year, the vagaries of the algorithms used by Tom “The Fixture Computer” Rutherford treating us to more post match chips!

Mooro won the toss and put the game plan into action, inserting the opposition. Chappers lumbered in, and started with a dot ball, a pattern that would repeat regulalry through his opening spell. The third ball of the day brought the break through. Village skipper Grieve edging to Macca at second slip. The Aussie going high to his right with the sort of hang time Michael Jordan would’ve killed for. Kev Meier took the new ball at the Station End, and kept up the pressure. Black and Taylor hanging around but not really making much progress. Having reached 10 overs with only 18 on the board, they must have thought that the change bowling would bring some runs.

Fraggle’s first ball was despatched to the boundary, but he soon settled, and though wicketless he did his bit to continue building pressure. “Dangerous” Maconochie replaced Kevin, and with his usual mix of accuracy and pace had the batsmen in trouble. His third over was a beauty, including 2 wickets in two balls to reduce the home side to 28 for 3. Firstly Taylor snicked high to slip, the Classy Dave Lawrie only able to parry the ball, but, quick reactions from PC Urquhart saw the former skipper complete the catch. Next ball was a classic quicks wicket, Hawkins edging low to Classy at first slip. Balloch joined Black in a rebuilding exercise, and they saw the score through to 45 at drinks. Mooro came on and after a loose first over settled into another tricky spell, with none of the batsmen sure of the best way to play him.

It didn’t get any easier for the Villagers as the “Unplayable” Rob Inglis was next into the attack. Getting into his stride straight away, Ringles would bowl his eight overs straight through, finishing with well deserved figures of 2 for 13. We were surprised by the 13 to be honest. He broke the partnership, clean bowling Balloch with an absolute Jaffa, and eventually got his man, trapping top scorer Black lbw. The batsman feeling he’d got an inside edge onto his pads. In between these, Hextall was run out, sleeping on his bat as Black looked to push on, and ray was stumped by JK off Mooro. Chappers and Macca came back to bowl the last four overs, taking a wicket apiece and conceding just six runs into the bargain. The innings closing on 83 for 9.

Quietly confident as we went out for the run chase, we were to be shaken early as Urquhart was adjudged lbw with the score on 10. Hextall was doing his best “Gunther” Nel impression and his verbals finally got to Will, who flashed at one he should have left and was caught behind for 10, making the score 29 for 2. When Classy was triggered with score on 40, having made a painstaking 13, Preston Village felt right in the game. JK entered and disappeared, quickly followed by Jonesy who bated 47 minutes for his 9. At this point we were 57 for 5. Cue the Bash Brothers. Mooro and Macca took a fancy to the odd ball, Mooro was put down twice, and this ultimately was to prove expensive. Balloch came into the attack, and disappeared for a couple of 4’s as Mooro got going. He then pinched a single, leaving Macca to tie the scores with a huge six, and then promptly getting himself bowled. The second match in a row he’d gotten us level and then gotten out.

Fraggle made the walk to the middle, and went to the non strikers end as it was a new over. Fabreschi rolled in, delivered and Will signalled wide.

Not the most satisfying way to end a game, but it’s another win, and despit Dunbars victory, we cannot finish worse than second. Division 7 awaits next year. One more win and we win the league to boot.

Preston Village 2

Total for 9 wkts 83 from 40 overs

RHC 3

Total for 6 wickets 84 from 26 overs