Scorecard

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI v Dalnacraig on Sun 06 May 2012 at 1pm
Forfarshire Cricket Club Lost 49 runs

Match report
The rain subsided towards the end of the week; thereby allowing the Head Groundsman to rise from his overused hammock and prepare a wicket.

Given the torrential rain throughout April and early May, the strip was in decent nick as Forthill 2nd XI gathered for their second league game of the season overall and their first game at home. The visitors were local rivals Dalancraig and it was a strong and experienced visiting line up that took the field. Home skipper D Sim made his first appearance of the season and the players gathered pre match to witness the traditional season opening event of the skipper trying on his cricket trousers. 2012 will go down as a year that he managed to wriggle into his whites without adjusting the waistband and his winter fitness regime of not supersizing his Big Mac meals had clearly paid off.

The slimline skipper lost the toss and we found ourselves fielding first on an overcast and chilly afternoon. Adam and Craig opened the bowling and both enjoyed good spells and the visiting openers found scoring difficult. Craig picked up the first wicket when he bowled Braid and this brought Kevin Ancell to the crease. Kevin is undoubtedly one of the visiting club’s best batsmen at all levels and after a scratchy beginning he went on to strike a fine unbeaten 93 which ultimately proved to be a match winning innings. Forthill will rue dropping chances to dismiss Kevin which may well have changed the game – but he played some fine shots and well done to him.

He did find himself immersed in some controversy mid innings when he helped a high full toss from Chris into the hands of short third man where a comfortable catch was taken. The visiting umpire called no ball much to the consternation of the home supporters gathered in front of the score box who felt that the ball was not above the required height to be deemed a no ball for a slow bowler. An interesting verbal duel then followed between batsman and fans which was declared a draw.

Forthill’s good start evaporated towards the end of the innings and in spite of nice spells by Glenn and Christian. The latter overs leaked runs and Dalnacraig finally managed to post an above par 200 for 5. This included a fine 39 not out from Horne who had opened the batting for the High School first team the previous day. The innings included a one and a half hour rain delay when tea was taken; so it was after 5pm when the innings closed and it was a tired and cold home team who trooped off the field. Tea was of an average Forthill standard. The sandwich offering was good – if a little heavy on cheese only filling – but the cakes and biscuits were limited. Never was a hot cup of tea so welcome.

Gavin gained extra marks by providing table service for the tea adjudicator who was very happy with this new development for 2012. Overall a six out of ten was awarded which gives the home club an early lead in the pursuit of the Silver Salver Award; which is very open this year with no Arbroath team in this league.

Back to the cricket; and Gavin and Scott opened the batting against the visitors who started with the fantastically named Shogun Jonny and their first team’s Australian overseas amateur who had taken four wickets for the first team the day before. They bowled nicely but the homesters stuck in and a decent start was accrued before Gavin was unfortunately bowled. Clark joined Scott and they kept things moving before Scott fell and Adam then came to the crease. With the score on 93 for 2 and plenty of overs in hand the game had swung in favour of Forthill and Clark and Adam seemed in little trouble before Clark fell - and then a mini collapse ensued which saw the game move back in Dalnacraig’s favour. Christian repelled the attack well but with runs drying up and overs running out; it appeared that the home team’s best chance of avoiding defeat was the gathering gloomy rain clouds and the hope of the heavens opening. Dalnacraig put a sprint on and hurried through the remaining overs to bring the game to a conclusion with Forthill finishing on 151 for 7.

So a 49 run defeat was the disappointing conclusion and a game of “if only’s” was reviewed at the end of the game. If only catches had been taken, if only no balls had not been called, if only it had rained a bit harder….

The game had a similar feel to last week’s, with a reasonable display from our young team in the field being spoiled by a combination of dropped catches and us running in to a batsman who normally plies his trade at a higher level. So there are some promising signs as we carry on into the season and next week we welcome Kinloch to Forthill. The Fifers opened up with a resounding win at Coupar Angus last week so it is an in form visiting eleven that heads for Broughty Ferry.

Players are reminded that club subscriptions are now due and this is the last weekend when you can play without having paid. No doubt that means that next week we will have the annual unwelcome sight of Herr Auchinleck standing outside the changing room door with machine gun in hand demanding payment of monies. Any new players at the club who have not seen this sight should not be alarmed – as long as you have paid your dosh!



Dalnacraig Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 9w 2b 1lb 
for 5 wickets
14
200 (45.0 overs)		     
J Braid b  McConnachie 8
D Lindsay ct  Sim b Hussain 13
K Ancell Not Out  93
D Hunter ct  b Carnegie 22
R Hopkins b  Martin 10
J Amin run out  (Welsh) 0
R Horne Not Out  39
M Waters  
S Johnny  
M Rashid  
H Tummala  

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Adam Hill6.011700.002.83
Craig McConnachie8.0127127.003.38
Gulfam Hussain3.0024124.008.00
Glenn Carnegie9.0136136.004.00
Christian Robertson6.002000.003.33
Gavin Martin8.0143143.005.37
Christopher Welsh5.003000.006.00

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 7 wickets
0
151		        
Scott Cameron b  Rashid 10
Gavin Martin b  Johnny 26 5
Clark McConnachie b  Rashid 22 3
Adam Hill b  Rashid 22 1 1
Glenn Carnegie b  Hopkins 5
Ross Lloyd b  Horne 4 1
Christian Robertson Not Out  18 1
Craig McConnachie b  Tummala 10 1
Christopher Welsh Not Out  4 1
David Sim   1
Gulfam Hussain  

Dalnacraig Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
M Waters8.022800.003.50
S Johnny7.0139139.005.57
M Rashid9.041033.331.11
H Tummala10.0229129.002.90
R Horne5.0117117.003.40
R Hopkins5.03818.001.60