University of St Andrews 3^rd XI, 14^th April 2011

University of St Andrews Staff 145 for 4 (20 overs) beat University of St Andrews 3^rd XI 124 for 7 (20 overs) by 21 runs
(U. Pathania 49 n.o. T. Clemens 30) (S. Frankland 3-22, D. Miller 2-14)

The 2011 season started off in glorious fashion with a win over the Students 3rd XI that became more comfortable as darkness set in.

Having been put in to bat, openers Dave and Stan wandered out to christen the new season with a second ball run out, Dave being the unfortunate receipient of a direct hit halfway through a single called by Stan with early season optimism. This brought debutant Paul to the crease but he was soon undone by a fine delivery nipping back to bowl him. Stan scored a couple of boundaries without looking his fluent best and fell to a fine catch by the wicketkeeper down the legside for 15.

With the score at 62 for 3 at 11 overs Tom and Uday began to accelerate the run rate in a fine 48 run partnerships, with Uday striking some excellent shots all round the wicket, including 4 boundaries in 5 balls. Tom fell attempting to hit another boundary, leaving Uday to continue his rampage in an unbeaten partnership of 35 with Dom to end the innings.

Opening the bowling, Tim James induced the opener Reiss into hitting one straight up into the air for a catch...sadly dropped in what is hopefully not a portent of our fielding for the season. After Angus clean bowled the other opener in a tight spell, Reiss and no. 3 Day began to attack the target, taking the score to 82 - 1 at the halfway mark. Dave and Uday then combined to drag the game back in our favour. Dave, displaying the virtues of full, straight bowling, bowled Reiss and then the no.4 batsman. At the other end Uday bowled his 3 overs for just 6 runs, inducing Day into an attempted big hit down the ground which was caught by Dom rushing in.

With the students 4 wickets down with a weak middle order and rapidly fading light, it was left to Stan 'The Hoover' Frankland to come on and repair his figures with 3 wickets, including two courtesy of fine stumpings by Paul, as the run chase fizzled out.

Although somewhat helped by the light conditions towards the end and a large amount of runs added to our score by Extras, tidy fielding and lack of any batting collapse offer a good base to start the season off, as well as the all important victory.

- Dominic Bransden