Scorecard

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI v Perth Doo'cot 2nd XI on Sun 03 Jun 2012 at 1pm
Forfarshire Cricket Club Won 24 runs

Match report
Sunday 3rd June 2012 saw the first ever league meeting between a team from Forfarshire CC and the newly formed Perth Do’ocot Cricket Club. The game was between Forthill 2nd XI and Perth Do’ocot XI in the Strathmore and Perthshire Union Division One. The new Perth based club was formed by the amalgamation of various individual locally based organisations to form one super club that plays out of the fine facility at Do’ocot Park on the outskirts of the Fair City.

For the record, the club was formed by the joining of Strathearn, Perth Northern, Mayfield, Almond Valley, Perthshire, St Johnstone, Bells Sports Centre, Broxden Roundabout Park and Ride, Noah’s Ark, Jeanfield Swifts, The Ice Factory, Scone Palace and the Errol Car Boot Sale. There were some familiar faces in the visiting line up - although it was somewhat strange to see them all on the same team. We wish the new organisation well.

Home skipper, Chief Constable Sim senior, got the call on Sunday morning to assist in Dundee’s latest homicide so Sim Junior took the reins. The late call off by his Dad lead to Chubbsy giving a very late call up in to the home ranks for first team player and Perth boy Scott Galloway. Thanks go to Scott for helping out at short notice. For the record, he batted at number eleven (not required), fielded at first slip (dropped two) and bowled the second last over when the game was dead (none for ten).

In recent weeks the home side have adopted a rather professional warm up routine and Bryce helped greatly this week by giving us access to his extensive cricket ball collection. This meant the players could choose from a magnificent selection of balls which Bryce has acquired from the club in recent seasons with which to practice. When I asked Andy what he thought of the ball he had been given, he answered that he thought it did indeed exactly mirror a thirty two overs old ball that had been used in slightly damp conditions and had just started to reverse. Bryce has sworn the rest of the team to secrecy over the number of cricket balls in his possession in case he is suspected of pilfering by the club’s chief ball custodian. Let’s just say it the number he had in his specially constructed ball case was very apt given this is Jubilee week.......

Sim junior was more successful than his father in the coin flipping department and Forthill opted to take first use of a very good looking track. The better weather in recent days has allowed the groundsman to get out of his bed and start his mowers in anger - and a beautiful batting strip was the result. Jack and Andy opened up and seemed in little trouble when Jack guided one low through the gully area only for it to be pouched brilliantly by one of Perth’s more mature fielders. This was a very fine catch indeed if ever there was one.

Clark joined Andy and they proceeded to put together a 118 run partnership that laid the foundation for victory. When Clark (71) (runs not years old) departed, Adam came to the crease and carried on from his century of last week by flaying the visiting bowling to all parts of the ground. He and Andy built some momentum before Andy departed for a well crafted 62 and Craig came to the crease. Craig (21 not out) played well and gave Adam as much of the strike as possible and this helped Adam to finish on a quick fire 75 not out. The final total at the end of 45 overs was a significant 286 for 3 and overall this was a fine batting display from the home side. Credit goes to the Perth bowlers for sticking to the task and battling to the end.

In spite of the sunny conditions, a cold breeze meant that a cup of hot tea was very welcome at the break. A nice tea was laid out. Hot sausage rolls, a good selection of sandwiches and rolls, lots of cakes, some pretty home baking and a hot steaming cup of tea. Overall, this was fine fare and a season’s best seven out of ten was awarded. There seemed to be plenty to go around and this was largely attributed to the absence of the skipper - and word came back that the mobile catering unit set up for the boys in blue on duty in town had run out of provisions. We know how the boys in blue feel when going into battle against Sim Senior when food is on the go.

Ross had interestingly decided to supplement the tea he brought for the opposition with his own special provisions. He claimed on previous occasions he had been left empty handed so had taken steps to ensure he would be fed. He had also brought his own sandwiches - which were concealed in an interesting tinfoil model of a shoe which certainly caught the eye. Thankfully the Inchture fugitive was nowhere to be seen today and rumour had it he was en route to Southern England via tractor convoy to a Cricket Scotland Jubilee Jolly.

The skipper decided to throw the new ball (don’t tell the cricket ball custodian) to the youthful bowling partnership of Jack and Christian who are both 14 years old. They both bowled excellent spells and the quick start that Perth needed if they were to chase down the 287 runs needed for victory could not be attained. Both boys are to be congratulated on fine accurate spells. Christian bowled one of the opening batsmen and run scoring was proving difficult. Craig came on and picked up a wicket and the visitors were well behind the clock as Simmy rung the changes. With the game petering out Le Roux came to the crease and from the first ball he faced unleashed some mighty blows. He raced to fifty in some style including a lusty swish into the school. The home side started to survey the scoreboard once again and although a massive amount of runs were still needed – another few overs of Le Roux (surprisingly not nicknamed Danny) would clearly have proved interesting. However Andy managed to find his outside edge and Bridie clung on to the snick and Le Roux departed for a fantastically entertaining 54 runs.

Perth stuck to the task, but in truth the total was always beyond them. Forthill gave some occasional bowlers a whirl in the shape of Ross, Bryce and Scott as the clock wound down. The most interesting phase of the last few overs came with a procession of home players having to leave the field to urgently visit the little boys’ room. Bryce lead the charge, followed by Craig and Christian and one started to wonder if the Inchture fugitive had indeed swung past via Broughty Ferry and tampered with the tea again? After getting back on the field, Craig then collapsed in a heap and was last seen starting to resemble the colour of the Hulk as he slowly walked off towards the bathroom. Thankfully the game finished without further mishap and Forthill reached the warmth of the dressing room 25 points to the good. Special mention in the bowling department goes to Jack. After a good opening spell which was unfortunately wicketless, he came back and cleaned up the tail and finished with the fine figures of 4 for 28.

The game was played in good spirit throughout with no umpiring shenanigans or controversy. There is no doubt that Perth Do’ocot will become a strong club in the years to come and they had a good blend of youth and experience on show – with some of the younger lads being clearly talented cricketers. They took 9 well deserved points for their efforts. For Forthill this was another welcome win as we look to cement our place in this division again.

The Man of the Match Award went to Adam for a second week running for his rapid 75 and he wins a year’s supply of cricket balls courtesy of Brycie’s Balls of Broughty Ferry (bulk supply enquiries welcome). Next week sees us heading to Bannockburn to play St Modans under the shadow of the Wallace Monument. I know our first team skipper has been doing well but not sure if he is worth a monument at this young age?

Finally, it has been revealed that the club has decided to switch off the hot water during the week as a money saving exercise. Many senior members are unhappy about this move and ways of having this draconian move reversed are being discussed. The main idea at present is to examine how much funds this will actually save the club - and then raise the required amount of money that will see the immersion being switched on again. The chief cost cutting manager was politely asked to reveal the amount of money saved by the switching off of the immersion and he replied, “it is never getting switched on again” before storming off into the distance... Talks will continue in an effort to find a solution. Watch this space.....



Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 3 wickets
0
286
        
Andrew Cameron ct Taylor b Mearns 62
Jack Hogarth ct Riley b Mearns 6
Clark McConnachie b Le Roux 71
Adam Hill Not Out  75
Craig McConnachie Not Out  21
Christian Robertson  
Bryce Robertson  
Ross Lloyd  
Steven Sim  
Christopher Welsh  
Scott Galloway  

Perth Doo'cot 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
F Mearns9.0060230.006.67
D Armstrong9.013300.003.67
P Collins9.015000.005.56
S Kasi4.002900.007.25
H Le Roux5.0041141.008.20
Ragu9.005100.005.67

Perth Doo'cot 2nd XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
244 (44.5 overs)
     
F. Mearns ct C Robertson b Welsh 32
I. Riley b C Robertson 0
J. McKenzie ct Cameron b McConnachie 11
P. Collins ct McConnachie snr b Cameron 14
C. Taylor b Hogarth 49
H. Le Roux ct Sim b Cameron 54
D. Mishrikon ct Sim b Welsh 14
D. Armstrong lbw Hogarth 23
G. Armstrong b Hogarth 8
Ragu b Hogarth 13
S. Kasi Not Out  1

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jack Hogarth7.512646.503.32
Christian Robertson5.03616.001.20
Craig McConnachie5.0032132.006.40
Christopher Welsh9.0037218.504.11
Andrew Cameron7.0031215.504.43
Adam Hill4.004400.0011.00
Ross Lloyd3.002700.009.00
Bryce Robertson3.002500.008.33
Scott Galloway1.001000.0010.00