Arborath CC, 8th August 2010

St AUSCC (152 a.o, U. Pathania 45) beat Arbroath CC (70, P. Jess 3/9) by 82 runs

St Andrews welcomed a youthful Arbroath team on Sunday and finished with a second comprehensive victory within a week. Captain Tom won the toss and elected to bat, with some hungover players relieved to have time to soak up the sun on the sidelines.

On the pitch things started badly with Dom getting caught off a wide one and Stan missing a straight one, leaving Uday and Tom to slowly resurrect the innings. After seeing off the opening bowlers with the score at 26-2, the pair began to score more freely against a variety of slower bowlers, with Uday in particular hitting some fine boundaries. The partnership reached 99 before Uday was bowled for 45 to begin the usual middle order collapse and Tom’s resolute knock ended on 40. With the innings in danger of finishing with a distinct whimper it was left to Pat to crunch 3 boundaries in a quick 16*, whilst Tim held up an end with a series of extravagant leaves as we made it to 152 all out.

With a competitive total to defend Tim and Uday opened the bowling very tidily but without success until the 6th over where Dom’s impression of a ‘flying gorilla’ (Pat’s words) led to a one-handed catch in gully off a skewed drive. Without any further wickets for the opening bowlers it was left to Stan and Pat to demolish the middle order. Pat started the rot in his first over, sending two batsmen back bowled by vicious in-swingers, before grabbing a later wicket courtesy of another fine one-handed catch, this time by the Captain, to leave him with the excellent figures of 3-9 off 6 overs.

Meanwhile at the other end Stan wheeled away with his usual parsimony to end up with 2-10 off 8 overs, Richie taking one catch and deflecting the other for Lewis to take a sharp, low chance. Two further wickets followed courtesy of run-outs as the fielding continued to provide good support to the bowlers.

With Gregor bowling 4 tight but unrewarded overs, and Lewis particularly unlucky not to take a couple of wickets in his spell, it was left to the demon bowling of Dom (with a vicious short ball to a young child) and Tom (with a first ball full toss edged by an even younger child )to take the final two wickets as Arbroath finished on 68 all out off 33 overs.

Overall an excellent bowling and fielding performance by all involved, with Uday and Tom to thank for grafting their way to a good total, and Stan and Pat providing some excellent change bowling to put the game beyond doubt.

- Dominic Bransden