Scorecard

Forfarshire Cricket Club Forthill 2nd XI v Dalnacraig on Sun 31 May 2009 at 1pm
Forfarshire Cricket Club Won 8 wickets

Match report
Bright sunshine was the order of the day as Forthill XI welcomed local rivals Dalnacraig ( Formerly DHSFPCC) in this Strathmore Union First Division league fixture.

The name change for our friends from along Arbroath Road has come about following Dundee High School's decision to turn the hallowed turf that is their cricket pitch into an all weather hockey surface instead. It is with some regret therefore that this appears to be the last season of cricket at Dalnacraig, however, in spite of potentially becoming homeless the visitors advised that there is no truth in the rumour that they are now sponsored by the Big Issue.

As an amatuer cricketer, the one thing you wish for on a rare sunny Sunday afternoon is for the skipper to win the toss and have a bat - especially on a pitch which yielded in excess 600 runs the day before. Simmy however disappointed the home team and came back from the toss shoulders hunched into his belly and it was clear from the body language that we faced a hot afternoon in the field.

Kevin and Andy seemed to enjoy the sun on their backs however, as both bowled excellent opening spells which had the visitors reeling and they were followed into the attack by Jalees who bowled beautifully once again ( what does this lad have to do to get into the second team at least??). As a result the Big Issue boys found themselves reeling at 50 for 7 on a great batting track and with the sun still beating down. Enter two of the oldest homeless cricketers in the town in the form of Hopkins and Ancell who once again showed that in a crisis there is no substitute for experience. Following the old adage of in crisis block the good balls and block the bad ones as well. They slowly started to build the total back towards some semblance of respectability with Hopkins in particular batting well and ending up with a well deserved unbeaten half century.

For the home team's part, they definitely wilted a little under the sun towards the end of the innings, however there is no doubt that they would have accepted chasing 135 on the Forthill feather bed before the start of the play.

It was good to see a healthy crowd inside the ground enjoying the sunshine. Home favourite Ian was among the spectators and he is continuing to battle back from injury and is currently undergoing lengthy rehab sessions at a local gymnasium with a view to being back for the big one at Montrose in a few weeks. His place is clearly under threat after a lengthy absence, however he is going to some lengths towards ensuring a prompt recall once his fitness is up to 100%. This was in evidence yesterday when he was seen to bring a Cornetto up especially for chief of selectors Dave T in an attempt to court favour with this key figure of influence on the committee. However this move appeared to have backfired when the Chief pointed out that the Cornetto had started to melt and seemed somewhat displeased. This all took place under the nose of a parched veteran fielder at deep square leg who was offered a lick to revive him from Dave and Ian which he understandably declined....

After a splendid tea of nicely filled sandwiches and hot savouries, the home side set off in pursuit of the required runs in the form of Elliot and Neil. Unfortunately Elliot fell first ball after nicking an away swinger through to the keeper and this brought young David to the crease. He and Neil started to take the game away from the Dundee Refugees with a match winning partnership with some nice shots all around the wicket being displayed. Neil was roundly applauded by his large group of personal followers after reaching a landmark score of 47 and it was a pity he couldn't go on to an even bigger round of applause by reaching 48.

David continued to play some great shots and the winning runs were scored in the 22nd over to round off a very comfortable 8 wicket victory.

As the visitors headed back home to their caravans, it was a contended home side who voted David Salisbury as Man of the Match for his exciting 53 not out and he receives a years supply of Cornettos courtesy of IP Lickers Ice Cream Company of Monifieth.

This week sees Forthill XI visit the picturesque fishing port of Montrose as they begin their defence of the Two Counties Cup. The Gav Martin Mental Travelling Barmy Army leaves Forthill at 12 noon and will be stopping off at Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie, Friockheim, Forfar and Brechin to look for a bit of bother before rumbling in to Montrose for a pre arranged ruck with the local casuals. All members are reminded to bring their hair gel.



Dalnacraig Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
135 (0.0 overs)
M Sagir Caught  Turner b Wallace 9
C Reid Bowled  Singh 6
K Ancell Caught  Salisbury b Wallace 1
E Parsons Bowled  J Ahmed 8
G Kiddie Bowled  Cameron 0
R Hopkins Not Out  55
F Saeed Run out  6
D Hunter Caught  & Bowled J Ahmed 4
L Ancell Bowled  McCandless 10
A Saeed Not Out  4
M Ancell  

Forfarshire Cricket Club Forthill 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Andrew Wallace9.041728.501.89
Kevin Karan Singh6.03717.001.17
Jalees Ahmed9.041226.001.33
Andrew Cameron5.0023123.004.60
Adees Ahmed5.011700.003.40
Elliot McCandless4.0019119.004.75
Billy Turner7.003700.005.29

Forfarshire Cricket Club Forthill 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
139
(0.0 overs)		    
Neil Martin Caught  Saeed b Hunter 47
Elliot McCandless Caught  Saeed b Ancell 0
David Salisbury Not Out  53 1
Clark McConnachie Not Out  31
Andrew Wallace  
Jalees Ahmed   1
Billy Turner   1
Andrew Cameron  
David Sim  
Kevin Karan Singh  
Adees Ahmed  

Dalnacraig Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
M Ancell3.0025125.008.33
E Parsons5.012100.004.20
L Ancell2.001900.009.50
A Saeed6.003600.006.00
R Hopkins3.001600.005.33
D Hunter2.1020120.009.23