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Photo credit: David Potter, Cricket Europe
Back row (L-R): Chris Jackman, Matt Clarke, Patrick Jess, Angus Stewart, Dave Miller, Phil Jess.
Front row (L-R): Fergus Knight, Roy Dilley, Stan Frankland (capt.), Stuart Cross, Mike Harrison.
A remarkable team performance on Sunday in the Small Clubs Cup led to a
dramatic 2 run victory over Kinross CC from the last ball of the match.
Following last year's disappointing exit at the same stage to the same
opposition, St Andrews picked a strong batting team with plenty of
all-rounder bowling options. Kinross were introducing their brand new ground - the front lawn of a 17th Century stately home - and we were obliged to
play on their Astroturf wicket which offered erratic bounce but little in
the way of turn. Batting first after winning the toss, Roy and Mike compiled
runs gradually against a youthful and accurate attack, offering few chances
and suffering the occasional blow on the fingers for their stand of 41 in 19
overs. Mike perished picking up the scoring rate but Stan was able to move
things along with a few boundaries, finding time to run Roy out for a hard
fought 16. Fergus Knight came in to make his Staff team debut, soon joined
by Chris Jackman and the left handers began to knock Kinross off their line
and length. Chris poked one to mid off but Matt Clarke came in and partnered
Fergus to a stand of 66 for the 5th wicket, rattling the score along with
powerful hitting and aggressive scampering between the wickets, including an
all run five taking advantage of flagging fielders. Fergus eventually fell
for an excellent 60, issuing in the briefest of stays for Dave Miller who
contrived to be out hit ball twice - the first time most of us have seen
that method of dismissal! With the end looming, Stuart Cross added an
important 10 in 4 deliveries, sweeping two boundaries in fine style. A total
of 178 was beyond what looked achievable in the early stages and left
Kinross with a target a touch steeper than they were expecting.
Angus and Matt opened the bowling with tidy and occasionally hostile seam
bowling, suffering from the frequent rain showers as the astro became
slippery and unreliable underfoot. Whilst JJ Ross played with confidence to
move the score along, the other opener was becalmed until Matt had him well
caught by Stuart at extra cover, a position in which he excelled all
afternoon. Angus nearly had the dangerous opener c&b but an unfortunate
collision with Phil suggested that Angus should perhaps field in a box next
time round! Phil replaced him at the northern end and running into a strong,
gusty, wind occasionally strayed in line but was to prove deadly when his
straight deliveries accounted for Ross for 40, Watt for 6 and Weir for 4,
well taken at square leg by Stan. The match looked well poised as Kinross
had reached the 19th over with a lead of 36 but four wickets down. Following
drinks, Dave and Stan bowled well in tandem, rarely straying in line and
obliging Kinross to push for singles, a process made harder by good leg side
fielding from Roy, Phil and Chris. With a partnership of 42, Kinross reached
the 30th over needing a run rate of 4.5 but lost the aggressive P Ross to an
excellent delivery from Dave whose spell closed on 6-1-22-1. Mike Harrison
replaced Stan whose nine excellent overs had gone for a mere 21 and finished
wicketless mostly due to a firmly 'not out' umpire at his end. Mike bowled
with exceptional control but runs still came from both ends, with J Munley
reaching his 50 with a series of thumped boundaries and at the end of the
40th over, Kinross required 19 off 30 balls. Since we had taken 48 off the
last 5 overs in our innings, things looked bleak until Munley lost his head
and his wicket, well stumped by Fergus off Mike in the 44th over. With the
field set half way back and a talented but relatively inexperienced
youngster at the crease, the penultimate over went for a mere two runs and
with Chris operating in the unfamiliar but successful role of death bowler,
Kinross could only manage four from the last. Enthusiastic celebrations
followed and a few well deserved pints consumed on reaching home.
Photos of this match can be found at the Cricket Scotland website