Scorecard

Forfarshire Cricket Club 4th XI v Meigle XI on Sun 19 Apr 2015 at 1pm
Forfarshire Cricket Club Won 8 wickets

Match report “Well bowled Simmy?”

Cricket in Scotland in April can often be a risky business. The weather can range from 20 degrees (very occasionally) to ice and snow (more likely) so it is always with trepidation and thermals packed that club cricketers tick the “available” column for games in this month. So it was last Sunday, that an icy blast from the East and cloudy skies greeted the cricketers of Forthill 3rd XI (henceforth to be called the fourths) and Meigle XI (henceforth to be called the tattie pickers) as they gathered for SPCU Northern Division One league duty.

The home skipper is a chap of Italian descent and with a name too difficult to spell; so let’s just call him Macaroni. Anyway, he won the toss and elected to field first which was a decision not based on tactics, the wicket or the opposition strengths........but merely on the fact that it would be even more freezing later on.

Macaroni roused the troops pre match with a Churchill type speech that had the young lads bursting to get out of the door and get at the tattie pickers. He threw the ball to Kailas and the first over was of the accurate variety and the young quick went on to bowl a fine opening spell, snaring two wickets in the process and generally impressing with his control. Big Glenn shared the new ball - but four overs in he tweaked a thigh muscle whilst executing one of his trademark dives in the field. He gamely kept bowling but Macaroni decided to withdraw him from the attack to avoid further injury.

With the tattie pickers moving along without too many dramas there was no sign of the excitement to follow when the skipper threw the ball to young leg spinner James Sim. This young lad hit the headlines last year when causing chaos and confusion in the club. This was when the phrase “well bowled Simmy” was heard at St Modans for the first time in the club’s history and was a phrase we thought would never hear uttered. It must be clarified that this Sim is in no way connected to the Broughty Ferry branch of that family – but is from a more Northern based group that are nice people unlike the Ferry Sims.

So James was into the attack early and with a wee bit of a loosener he induced tattie opener Clark to hit one skywards towards square leg where it looped over Cammy’s head. Let’s just say that to the watching masses, the ball was overwhelming favourite to safely reach terra firma, however to the astonishment of all (including the catcher) a full length sprawl saw the ball nestling safely in Cammy’s hands. An amazing catch - and James had his first wicket. Later in the over, the new batter decided attack was the best form of defence and danced down the wicket and smashed one like an exocet missile towards mid off where Macaroni had strategically positioned himself. The ball was again favourite as it moved like a tracer bullet towards the boundary, however in spite of still suffering the after effects of a Saturday night out............the skipper stuck out his left hand and the ball miraculously stuck in his mitt.

A disappointed Cammy was advised that he had held the catch of the season award for four balls.

Next over, James found the edge of tattie picker skipper Neave who was nicely taken behind the stumps by Macaroni Junior. Full credit goes to young Neave for sportingly walking. James went on to bamboozle a succession of visiting batsmen and finished with the remarkable figures of 6 for 12. This was a fine spell of leg spin bowling and if James continues to work hard and improve - the phrase “well bowled Simmy” will become a common one at Forthill. Cammy proved he can also bowl leg spin by taking the final wicket with the first ball he bowled and Meigle were dismissed for just 50 runs.

Chef Dave was caught on the hop for once; and with the urn not even turned on we decided to head back out for the reply. The other Sim in the line up (who resides in a poor part of Dundee where they don’t even get satellite TV) opened with Fraser and the two went about knocking off the runs. Unfortunately with a dozen to his name, Sim inside edged on to his stumps and made the long walk back to the pavilion. Cammy joined Fraser, who played some fine shots in a quick fire 33 before he was unfortunately caught behind with the winning post in sight. Glenn joined Cammy and they got the required runs to see the home side to a fine 8 wicket victory.

Some very good cricket was played by the home team; although it could be surmised that the fixture came a little early in the season for Meigle, who as ever played the game in a very fine spirit. Meigle are undoubtedly a fine club and will win many games this season at all levels. Chef Dave had by now got his act together and tea was served. A fine array of sandwiches and savouries was on view – all complemented by a lovely display of home baking courtesy of Mrs Macaroni; who clearly has future in baking and may even contemplate entry into the Meigle bake off later this summer?

Special mention goes to young Clark on his fourth team debut. Unfortunately he was not called into action, but he paid attention in the field which is a good sign for a newcomer. He also did an umpiring stint without complaint which earned him bonus points.

So that was the season’s opener for the fourths. Plenty of young talent on show – backed up by a couple of older heads is definitely the way forward for this team. It is good to see a few of the older lads committing to playing in this squad in the coming year and helping the skipper out – and preserving his sanity.....!!!

The Man of the Match Award was a complete no brainer and for his fantastic return of 6 for 12, James receives a year’s free bowling tuition from the Ferry Sims.


Meigle XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
50 (17.1 overs)		     
C Clarke ct  C Walker b J Sim 17
I Stewart b  Narayanan 6
A Neave ct  Girolami jnr b J Sim 3
C Jockelson ct  Girolami snr b J Sim 0
J Duff b  Narayanan 2
M Lockly ct  Sargeant b J Sim 2
F Wann lbw  b J Sim 0
F Barren b  C Walker 2
A Scott ct  Girolami jnr b J Sim 3
M Craig Not Out  5
   

Forfarshire Cricket Club 4th XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Kailas Narayanan8.0022211.002.75
Glenn Carnegie4.011000.002.50
James Sim5.001262.002.40
Cameron Walker0.10010.000.00

Forfarshire Cricket Club 4th XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
51		        
Steven Sim b  Jockelson 12
Fraser Ross ct  Duff b Jockelson 33
Cameron Walker Not Out  3 1
Glenn Carnegie Not Out  0
James Girolami   1
James (jnr) Girolami   2
Clark McConnachie  
Kailas Narayanan  
James Sim  
Morgan Sargeant   1
A.N. Other  

Meigle XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
C Jockelson7.3025212.503.33
A Neave3.001100.003.67
M Scott3.001200.004.00